- Case report
- Open Access
- Open Peer Review
A low-grade chondrosarcoma presenting as an unusual cervical mass in the hyoid bone: a case report
- Hirohiko Tachino1,
- Hiroaki Fushiki1Email author,
- Masayuki Ishida1 and
- Yukio Watanabe1
https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-6-21
© Tachino et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012
- Received: 25 September 2011
- Accepted: 18 January 2012
- Published: 18 January 2012
Abstract
Introduction
A chondrosarcoma originating from the hyoid bone is very rare. Here, we describe a case of low-grade chondrosarcoma of hyoid origin and discuss its preoperative imaging features, including those on positron emission tomography-computed tomography, and its recurrence rate.
Case presentation
A 42-year-old Japanese man noticed a mass in the right submandibular region of his neck. A hard 3.0 × 2.8 cm tumor was noted on the right side of his hyoid bone. The mass was immobile and moved with deglutition.
Conclusion
Even though radiographic studies, including positron emission tomography-computed tomography, were inconclusive, the cartilaginous tumor was surgically removed en bloc, and the tumor was diagnosed based on the results of pathological investigations. Close follow-up is recommended in such cases due to the potential for recurrences, because local recurrence occurred in 50% of the reported cases of grade one chondrosarcomas.
Keywords
- Bone Scintigraphy
- Chondrosarcoma
- Hyoid Bone
- Mosaic Pattern
- Chondroma
Introduction
Chondrosarcoma, a malignant tumor characterized by the production of a cartilage matrix, accounts for about 11% cases of primary malignant bone tumors [1]. The parts of the body where it develops at relatively high incidences include the long bones, the pelvis and the ribs [1]. The head and neck area are seldom affected; chondrosarcomas in this area reportedly account for 1% to 12% of all reported cases of the disease [1]. Chondrosarcoma of the hyoid bone is extremely rare, with only 15 cases being reported in international literature. Here, we describe a case of low-grade chondrosarcoma of hyoid origin. We also discuss its preoperative imaging features and its recurrence rate.
Case presentation
A 42-year-old Japanese man noticed a mass in the right submandibular region of his neck in June 2010. He visited the department of otolaryngology at a nearby general hospital the next month and was referred for medical treatment. More than two weeks later, he visited our University Hospital. A hard 3.0 × 2.8 cm tumor was noted on the right side of his hyoid bone. The mass was immobile and moved with deglutition. No spontaneous or tender pain was noted.
Preoperative imaging by CT and MRI. (a) Computed tomography of his neck. A gourd-shaped distension of bone was present on the right side of his hyoid bone. A multilocular cystic area of low density was observed in the distention. Central ossification was evident in the anterior lesion. (b) Magnetic resonance imaging T1-weighted image with low signal intensity. (c) MRI T2-weighted image high signal intensity. A mosaic pattern was visible in the high signal area.
Positron emission tomography-computed tomography. No abnormal accumulation in the hyoid tumor or systemic abnormalities were evident.
Surgery was performed to extirpate the tumor. His geniohyoid, mylohyoid, sternohyoid, and thyrohyoid muscles were detached from his hyoid bone. The tumor mass and surgical margins were resected bilaterally on the left side of the body of his hyoid bone and the right greater horn. There were almost no adhesions between the tumor and the tissue around it. Following a favorable postoperative course, our patient was discharged from hospital.
Macroscopic and histopathological examination. (a) The extirpated specimen was revealed to be a semi-lobular cartilaginous tumor mass covered by a thin fibrous coat. (b,c) Histopathological findings: (b) hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-stained, ×2; (c) HE-stained, ×40. The cartilaginous tumor mass is relatively well differentiated, the cell density is somewhat high and many binuclear cells were seen; an open chromatin pattern is evident with intranuclear structures observable in many cells.
Discussion
Generally, the most useful diagnostic imaging examination for chondrosarcoma is CT, which detects irregular bone destruction. Intratumoral calcification is noted in about 75% of patients using this tool [2, 3]. MRI is useful for surgical planning and for evaluating the degree of invasion of the tumor into the surrounding soft tissues. Signal intensity is low in T1-weighted images and high in T2-weighted images; the calcified portion is signal-free. A characteristic finding is a mosaic pattern in high signal areas in T2-weighted images [4]. In our case, a CT examination demonstrated no evidence of bone destruction, but revealed intratumoral calcification. On MRI examination, the signal intensity was low in T1-weighted images and high in T2-weighted images, with a mosaic pattern; however, no invasion into the tissue around the lesion was seen.
In most cases, bone scintigraphy examination reveals poor uptake in the chondrosarcoma itself and morbid uptake in the destroyed area of the affected bone [5]. FDG-PET is useful for grading tumors and for evaluating local recurrences and metastatic diseases [6]. A standardized uptake value of 1.3 has been reported as a border value that distinguishes between benign and malignant tumors [7]. However, bone scintigraphy and FDG-PET did not rule out the presence of chondrosarcoma in our case. The negative test results may have been obtained partly because the hyoid bone itself is small, and partly because the reactive bone formation was inconspicuous on histology. Therefore, it may be impossible to distinguish chondroma from low-grade chondrosarcoma of hyoid origin by means of preoperative imaging tests, including positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT).
Generally, the occurrence of metastases becomes more probable as the degree of malignancy increases, resulting in poor prognoses [8]. The five- year survival rate for all cases of chondrosarcoma is reportedly 90% for grade one, 81% for grade two and 43% for grade three [9]. However, in the few grade one cases of hyoid origin with available outcome records, local recurrences occurred in five of the 10 reported cases. Therefore, close follow-up is necessary.
Conclusion
The present case did not involve union of the lesion to the tissue around it. The tumor and surrounding intact hyoid bone tissue were completely resected. Pathological results led to the diagnosis of a grade one tumor of low malignancy. Even though our radiographic studies, including PET-CT, were inconclusive, we surgically removed the cartilaginous tumor en bloc and the tumor was diagnosed based on the results of pathological investigations. Chondrosarcomas of hyoid origin have a high incidence of local recurrence and are sometimes metastatic. Therefore, it seems necessary to closely follow-up the patient for a prolonged period of time.
Consent
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.
Declarations
Authors’ Affiliations
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