Skip to main content
Log in

Stereotactic radiosurgery for intracranial chondrosarcoma

  • Clinical Study
  • Published:
Journal of Neuro-Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To assess outcomes after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for chondrosarcomas of the skull base, we reviewed 22 patients with cranial base chondrosarcomas who underwent SRS between 1987 and 2009. The median patient age was 42 years (range, 15–75). The median SRS target volume was 8.0 cc (range, 0.9–28.2) and median margin dose was 15.0 Gy (range, 10.5–20). 15 patients (68 %) underwent one or more tumor resections and 3 of these patients also had fractionated radiation therapy. At a median follow-up of 75 months after SRS, seven patients died due to tumor progression. The actuarial overall survival after SRS for the entire group of chondrosarcoma patients was 95, 76, 70 and 56 % at 1, 3, 5 and 10 years, respectively. Factors associated with longer survival after SRS included patient age >40 years, a shorter interval (<6 months) between diagnosis and SRS, and either no or a single prior resection. Treated tumor control rates were 91, 72, 72 and 54 % at 1, 3, 5 and 10 years, respectively. Factors associated with longer progression-free survival after SRS included patient age >40 years and no prior RT. Symptomatic adverse radiation effects occurred in two patients (10 %). Stereotactic radiosurgery may provide a benefit to patients as either a primary or adjuvant therapy. The ability to achieve tumor control in patients with chondrosarcoma is likely to be enhanced by earlier timing of SRS after diagnosis and multimodal management, beginning with resection when feasible followed by early SRS for progressive residual tumor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Murphey MD, Walker EA, Wilson AJ, Kransdorf MJ, Temple HT, Gannon FH (2003) From the archives of the AFIP: imaging of primary chondrosarcoma: radiologic–pathologic correlation. Radiographics 23:1245–1278. doi:10.1148/rg.23503513423/5/1245

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Nguyen QN, Chang EL (2008) Emerging role of proton beam radiation therapy for chordoma and chondrosarcoma of the skull base. Curr Oncol Rep 10:338–343

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bourgouin PM, Tampieri D, Robitaille Y, Robert F, Bergeron D, del Carpio R, Melancon D, Ethier R (1992) Low-grade myxoid chondrosarcoma of the base of the skull: CT, MR, and histopathology. J Comput Assist Tomogr 16:268–273

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cianfriglia FPA, Occhipinti E (1978) Intracranial malignant cartilaginous tumors. Report of two cases and review of the literature. Acta Neurochir 45:163–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gay I, Elidan J, Kopolovic J (1981) Chondrosarcoma at the skull base. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 90:53–55

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gunes M, Gunaldi O, Tugcu B, Tanriverdi O, Guler AK, Colluoglu B (2009) Intracranial chondrosarcoma: a case report and review of the literature. Minim Invasive Neurosurg 52:238–241. doi:10.1055/s-0028-1128117

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Thurnher MM (2009) 2007 World Health Organization classification of tumours of the central nervous system. Cancer Imaging 9:S1–S3. doi:10.1102/1470-7330.2009.9001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Gelderblom H, Hogendoorn PC, Dijkstra SD, van Rijswijk CS, Krol AD, Taminiau AH, Bovee JV (2008) The clinical approach towards chondrosarcoma. Oncologist 13:320–329. doi:13/3/32010.1634/theoncologist.2007-0237

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Volpe NJ, Liebsch NJ, Munzenrider JE, Lessell S (1993) Neuro-ophthalmologic findings in chordoma and chondrosarcoma of the skull base. Am J Ophthalmol 115:97–104

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Martin JJ, Niranjan A, Kondziolka D, Flickinger JC, Lozanne KA, Lunsford LD (2007) Radiosurgery for chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the skull base. J Neurosurg 107:758–764. doi:10.3171/JNS-07/10/0758

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sekhar LN, Pranatartiharan R, Chanda A, Wright DC (2001) Chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the skull base: results and complications of surgical management. Neurosurg Focus 10:E2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Sen CN, Sekhar LN (1990) The subtemporal and preauricular infratemporal approach to intradural structures ventral to the brain stem. J Neurosurg 73:345–354. doi:10.3171/jns.1990.73.3.0345

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Sen CN, Sekhar LN, Schramm VL, Janecka IP (1989) Chordoma and chondrosarcoma of the cranial base: an 8-year experience. Neurosurgery 25:931–940 (discussion 940–931)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Feigl GC, Bundschuh O, Gharabaghi A, Safavi-Abassi S, El Shawarby A, Samii M, Horstmann GA (2005) Evaluation of a new concept for the management of skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas. J Neurosurg 102:165–170

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hug EB, Loredo LN, Slater JD, DeVries A, Grove RI, Schaefer RA, Rosenberg AE, Slater JM (1999) Proton radiation therapy for chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the skull base. J Neurosurg 91:432–439. doi:10.3171/jns.1999.91.3.0432

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hug EB, Slater JD (2000) Proton radiation therapy for chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the skull base. Neurosurg Clin N Am 11:627–638

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kondziolka D, Lunsford LD, Flickinger JC (1991) The role of radiosurgery in the management of chordoma and chondrosarcoma of the cranial base. Neurosurgery 29:38–45 (discussion 45–36)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Krishnan S, Foote RL, Brown PD, Pollock BE, Link MJ, Garces YI (2005) Radiosurgery for cranial base chordomas and chondrosarcomas. Neurosurgery 56:777–784 (discussion 777–784)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Muthukumar N, Kondziolka D, Lunsford LD, Flickinger JC (1998) Stereotactic radiosurgery for chordoma and chondrosarcoma: further experiences. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 41:387–392

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kano H, Iqbal FO, Sheehan J, Mathieu D, Seymour ZA, Niranjan A, Flickinger JC, Kondziolka D, Pollock BE, Rosseau G, Sneed PK, McDermott MW, Lunsford LD (2010) Stereotactic radiosurgery for chordoma: a report from the North American gamma knife consortium. Neurosurgery. doi:10.1227/NEU.0b013e3181ffa12c

    Google Scholar 

  21. Cox JD, Stetz J, Pajak TF (1995) Toxicity criteria of the radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) and the European organization for research and treatment of cancer (EORTC). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 31:1341–1346

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Wanebo JE, Bristol RE, Porter RR, Coons SW, Spetzler RF (2006) Management of cranial base chondrosarcomas. Neurosurgery 58: 249–255 (discussion 249–255) doi:10.1227/01.NEU.0000194834.74873.FB

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hug EB (2001) Review of skull base chordomas: prognostic factors and long-term results of proton-beam radiotherapy. Neurosurg Focus 10:E11

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Munzenrider JE, Liebsch NJ (1999) Proton therapy for tumors of the skull base. Strahlenther Onkol 175(Suppl 2):57–63

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Debus J, Schulz-Ertner D, Schad L, Essig M, Rhein B, Thillmann CO, Wannenmacher M (2000) Stereotactic fractionated radiotherapy for chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the skull base. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 47:591–596

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Gay E, Sekhar LN, Rubinstein E, Wright DC, Sen C, Janecka IP, Snyderman CH (1995) Chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the cranial base: results and follow-up of 60 patients. Neurosurgery 36: 887–896 (discussion 896–887)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Noel G, Feuvret L, Calugaru V, Dhermain F, Mammar H, Haie-Meder C, Ponvert D, Hasboun D, Ferrand R, Nauraye C, Boisserie G, Beaudre A, Gaboriaud G, Mazal A, Habrand JL, Mazeron JJ (2005) Chordomas of the base of the skull and upper cervical spine. One hundred patients irradiated by a 3D conformal technique combining photon and proton beams. Acta Oncol 44:700–708. doi:10.1080/02841860500326257

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Debus J, Hug EB, Liebsch NJ, O’Farrel D, Finkelstein D, Efird J, Munzenrider JE (1997) Brainstem tolerance to conformal radiotherapy of skull base tumors. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 39:967–975

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Koga T, Shin M, Saito N (2010) Treatment with high marginal dose is mandatory to achieve long-term control of skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas by means of stereotactic radiosurgery. J Neurooncol 98:233–238. doi:10.1007/s11060-010-0184-y

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Hasegawa T, Ishii D, Kida Y, Yoshimoto M, Koike J, Iizuka H (2007) Gamma knife surgery for skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas. J Neurosurg 107:752–757. doi:10.3171/JNS-07/10/0752

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Kano H, Iqbal FO, Sheehan J, Mathieu D, Seymour ZA, Niranjan A, Flickinger JC, Kondziolka D, Pollock BE, Rosseau G, Sneed PK, McDermott MW, Lunsford LD (2011) Stereotactic radiosurgery for chordoma: a report from the North American gamma knife consortium. Neurosurgery 68:379–389. doi:10.1227/NEU.0b013e3181ffa12c

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

Drs Lunsford and Kondziolka are consultants with A B Elekta. Dr. Lunsford is a stock holder in AB Elekta.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Dade Lunsford.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Iyer, A., Kano, H., Kondziolka, D. et al. Stereotactic radiosurgery for intracranial chondrosarcoma. J Neurooncol 108, 535–542 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-012-0858-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-012-0858-8

Keywords

Navigation