Two rare cases of craniofacial chondrosarcoma

Abstract

The craniofacial region is a rare site for chondrosarcomas. These tumors may have osseous or extraosseous origin. Extraosseous chondrosarcomas have the same histological features as osseous chondrosarcomas. Chondrosarcomas usually present in the fifth to seventh decades of life, although several cases with younger age at presentation have been reported. They usually present as a painless mass that gradually progresses to various complaints, such visual impairment, nasal obstruction, and dental abnormalities. In this article, we present two cases of chondrosarcoma occurring at rather unusual locations. It is important to keep this rare malignancy in the list of differential diagnoses for a mass in the head and neck region, as these tumors may not always show the features typical of this malignancy.

Keywords: Craniofacial chondrosarcoma, Extraosseous chondrosarcomas, Head and neck chondrosarcomas, Head and neck masses, Sinonasal chondrosarcoma