Chondrosarcoma of the nasal septum

Introduction. A chondrosarcoma is rarely located in the nasal septum with only fifty cases reported in the literature. Case report. We report a new ease of a seventy years old woman presenting with a large facial midline mass extending to the nasal cavity, having evolved for six months. Subsequent computed tomography revealed a mass destroying the nasal septum and extending to the endocrane. Intranasal biopsy revealed a chondrosarcoma. The extended work up revealed pulmonary metastasis. The course was not favourable and the patient died after one year. Discussion. The bones of the pelvis and of the lower extremities are the most common localizations for chondrosarcoma. It is rarely located in the nasal septum. Histological analysis is required for the diagnosis. It is characterized clinically by local aggressiveness, frequent metastatic evolution, and poor prognosis. Surgical resection is reserved to operable cases. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy used as adjuvant treatment and palliation are not effective. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.