Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma metastasising to the pancreas

Abstract

The mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MC) is a rare malignant tumour and accounts for less than 3% of primary chondrosarcomas. Mostly MC arises from the craniofacial bones, the ribs, the ilium, the femur and the vertebrae. A 54-year-old man was treated due to an icterus of unknown origin. The medical history of the patient consists of a multimodal treated MC of the thoracic vertebrae. A CT imaging identified a 2×4 cm sized mass of the pancreatic head. Suspecting a pancreatic head carcinoma surgical removal was performed. Histopathological a metastasis of MC was diagnosed. Our patient left the hospital after 17 days and died 23 month after surgery. Metastases of MC to the pancreas are rare. When detecting a mass of the pancreas in patients with a medical history of an MC, a metastasis of these tumour should be taken in consideration.

Keywords: cardiothoracic surgery; orthopaedic and trauma surgery; pancreas and biliary tract; surgical oncology.