MENINGEAL CHONDROSARCOMAS, A REVIEW OF 31 PATIENTS

We reviewed the literature to study the clinical features, the managem ent and the outcome of meningeal chondrosarcomas. We included 31 patie nts in this review: 22 were mesenchymal and nine were non-mesenchymal. The mean age was 27 years and 64% arose from the cranial meninges. Th e treatment was mainly total surgical excision. Adjuvent therapy was g iven to 36% of patients. Spinal meningeal chondrosarcomas had a better prognosis (81% 1-year survival and 45% 3-year survival). There were n o pathognomonic clinical or radiological features. We concluded that t he best management of meningeal chondrosarcomas is total surgical exci sion whenever possible, followed by combined course of radiotherapy an d chemotherapy as soon as possible.