Incidentally detected parafalcine chondrosarcoma

Parafalcine chondrosarcoma is extremely rare, and may be difficult to differentiate preoperatively from falx meningioma. An 18-year-old woman presented with a parafalcine chondrosarcoma incidentally detected as a small lesion 2 years before admission, suggesting falx meningioma. Brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging just before admission revealed the parafalcine lesion had increased by about nine times in volume during the last 2 years. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) after intravenous administration of both thallium-201 chloride (201TlCl) and N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) demonstrated no abnormal uptake of either tracer. Histological examination revealed classic low-grade chondrosarcoma. Parafalcine chondrosarcoma should be considered at this site if relatively rapid growth is observed. SPECT using 201TlCl and 123I-IMP may be useful to discriminate parafalcine low-grade chondrosarcoma from meningioma or other tumours originating in this region.