A case of extra osseous mesenchymal chondrosarcoma occuring in the paraphar
yngeal space in a 7-year-old girl, is being presented for its rarity. It is
a slow growing, locally aggressive tumour with a high incidence of local r
ecurrence as well as distant metastasis. It is rare in the pediatric age gr
oup and rarer in the parapharyngeal space. It has a poor prognosis, the 5-y
ear survival rate varies between 30 and 50%. Radical surgery is the treatme
nt of choice. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy have an adjuvant role. More exp
erience with this tumour is required to evaluate the most effective treatme
nt. Current literature on this subject has been reviewed. (C) 1999 Elsevier
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