MESENCHYMAL CHONDROSARCOMA OF THE CAUDA-EQUINA

Primary central nervous system mesenchymal chondrosarcomas are extreme ly rare tumors composed of primitive mesenchymal cells punctuated by i slands of cartilage in various stages of differentiation. Although the re are isolated reports of tumors arising in the spinal dura, to our k nowledge extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma localized to the cau da equina has not been reported in the literature. We present an unusu al case of a mesenchymal chondrosarcoma involving the nerve roots of t he cauda equina. The clinical, pathological and neuroimaging features are reviewed and discussed.