Acta chirurgiae orthopaedicae
et traumatologiae Čechoslovaca

Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech. 2023; 90(1):63-66 | DOI: 10.55095/achot2023/010

High-Grade Chondrosarcoma of the Proximal Phalanx: an Unusual Case of a Rare EntityCase report

A. PAGNOTTA¹, V. M. FORMICA¹, S. TACCOGNA², G. SUMMA³, C. ZOCCALI^4,5,*

¹ Hand and Microsurgery Unit of the Jewish Hospital of Rome, Rome, Italy

² Pathology Unit of the Jewish Hospital of Rome, Rome, Italy

³ Villa Stuart Eurosanità, Rome, Italy

⁴ Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

⁵ IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy

Chondrosarcoma of the hand is a rare disease, but is one of the more common malignancies of the hand. Biopsies and imaging are a fundamental step in determining correct diagnosis, grading and selection for best treatment.
We describe the case of a 77-year-old male complaining of a painless swelling in the proximal phalanx of the third ray of left hand. A biopsy was performed and the histology revealed a G2 chondrosarcoma. The patient underwent III ray amputation with metacarpal bone disarticulation and sacrifice of the radial digit nerve of the fourth ray. Definitive histology revealed grade 3 CS. Eighteen months after surgery, the patient is apparently disease-free with a good functional and aesthetic outcome although with persistent paresthesia of the fourth ray.
Although there is no agreement in the literature for the treatment of low-grade chondrosarcomas, wide resection or amputation can be considered the mainstay treatment for high-grade tumors.

Keywords: chondrosarcoma, proximal phalanx, ray amputation, surgical treatment, tumor hand

Published: February 15, 2023  Show citation