CHONDROSARCOMA SECONDARY TO SYNOVIAL CHONDROMATOSIS - REPORT OF 2 CASES AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Malignant transformation of synovial chondromatosis into chondrosarcom a is unusual. Thirteen cases and one series have been reported; only f our of them developed in the hip. The overall survival is about 50%, p ossibly because of the difficulty of arriving at a correct early diagn osis (radiographically and histologically) and subsequent adequate sur gical therapy. We report two patients (ages 30 and 50 years) in whom s ynovial chondrosarcoma developed in previously excised synovial chondr omatosis of the hip. The diagnosis was made with modem imaging techniq ues (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) and verified by open biopsy. The early recognition allowed a wide limb-saving resec tion; both patients are disease free 3 and 2 years after surgery.