Biomaterial Database

Cartilaginous tumours of soft tissue. 1988

C D Fletcher, and T Krausz

Department of Histopathology, St. Thomas's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.

Tumours of soft tissue may manifest cartilaginous differentiation as a primary phenomenon (as in chondromas or extraskeletal myxoid and mesenchymal chondrosarcomas) or as a secondary metaplastic feature (most notably in extraskeletal osteosarcomas or malignant nerve sheath tumours). The literature regarding primary cartilaginous tumours is reviewed and their differential diagnosis discussed. Soft tissue chondromas are noteworthy for their tendency to show significant nuclear pleomorphism. Extraskeletal chondrosarcoma is much rarer than its osseous counterpart, accounting for only 1-2% of soft tissue sarcomas. Virtually all such sarcomas can be classified into the myxoid or mesenchymal subtypes, of which myxoid carries a better prognosis. Soft tissue neoplasms which may show focal cartilaginous metaplasia are covered more briefly.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008679	Metaplasia	A condition in which there is a change of one adult cell type to another similar adult cell type.
D002356	Cartilage	A non-vascular form of connective tissue composed of CHONDROCYTES embedded in a matrix that includes CHONDROITIN SULFATE and various types of FIBRILLAR COLLAGEN. There are three major types: HYALINE CARTILAGE; FIBROCARTILAGE; and ELASTIC CARTILAGE.	Cartilages
D002471	Cell Transformation, Neoplastic	Cell changes manifested by escape from control mechanisms, increased growth potential, alterations in the cell surface, karyotypic abnormalities, morphological and biochemical deviations from the norm, and other attributes conferring the ability to invade, metastasize, and kill.	Neoplastic Transformation, Cell,Neoplastic Cell Transformation,Transformation, Neoplastic Cell,Tumorigenic Transformation,Cell Neoplastic Transformation,Cell Neoplastic Transformations,Cell Transformations, Neoplastic,Neoplastic Cell Transformations,Neoplastic Transformations, Cell,Transformation, Cell Neoplastic,Transformation, Tumorigenic,Transformations, Cell Neoplastic,Transformations, Neoplastic Cell,Transformations, Tumorigenic,Tumorigenic Transformations
D002812	Chondroma	A benign neoplasm derived from mesodermal cells that form cartilage. It may remain within the substance of a cartilage or bone (true chondroma or enchondroma) or may develop on the surface of a cartilage (ecchondroma or ecchondrosis). (Dorland, 27th ed; Stedman, 25th ed)	Enchondroma,Chondromas,Enchondromas
D002813	Chondrosarcoma	A slowly growing malignant neoplasm derived from cartilage cells, occurring most frequently in pelvic bones or near the ends of long bones, in middle-aged and old people. Most chondrosarcomas arise de novo, but some may develop in a preexisting benign cartilaginous lesion or in patients with ENCHONDROMATOSIS. (Stedman, 25th ed)	Chondrosarcomas
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012983	Soft Tissue Neoplasms	Neoplasms of whatever cell type or origin, occurring in the extraskeletal connective tissue framework of the body including the organs of locomotion and their various component structures, such as nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, etc.	Neoplasm, Soft Tissue,Neoplasms, Soft Tissue,Soft Tissue Neoplasm