Ej. Rushing et al., MESENCHYMAL CHONDROSARCOMA - A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL AND FLOW CYTOMETRIC STUDY OF 13 CASES PRESENTING IN THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM, Cancer, 77(9), 1996, pp. 1884-1891
BAGKGROUND. Mesenchymal chondrosarcomas arising in the central nervous
system are extremely rare. Morphologic features have not been found t
o correlate reliably with prognosis. METHODS, Eight intracranial and f
ive intraspinal mesenchymal chondrosarcomas were reviewed with regard
to location, treatment, and long term follow-up data. The histopatholo
gic and immunohistochemical results, including Ki-67 nuclear staining
frequency, were critically reviewed, and deoxyribonucleic acid content
was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS, Microscopically, all 13 case
s were remarkably similar. Immunoreactivity in the small cell componen
t included vimentin in 100%, and cytokeratin and glial fibrillary acid
ic protein in 25% of cases. S-100 immunoreactivity was noted in the ca
rtilaginous component of 100% of cases, and in rare cells in the small
cell component along the interface. Flow cytometry of the eight tumor
s studied revealed a diploid pattern in six, aneuploidy in two, and a
wide range of S-phase fractions (0-36.5%). CONCLUSIONS. Review of the
literature and the findings of the current series indicates that mesen
chymal chondrosarcomas presenting in the brain and spinal cord pursue
a progressive course that correlates most reliably with extent of surg
ical resection. This limited retrospective study also suggests that su
rvival maybe shorter for those patients with a high S-phase fraction a
nd a high Ki-67 staining frequency.