PRESENTATION AND RISK FACTORS FOR SURVIVAL AND RECURRENCE IN CHONDROSARCOMA OF BONE. RESULTS FROM THE SCOTTISH BONE TUMOUR REGISTRY.

The Government has set a target of two weeks for referral of suspicious tumours to specialist centres, but what symptoms should raise suspicion of chondrosarcoma and what factors affect survival and local recurrence? A retrospective study of 320 cases of chondrosarcoma from the Scottish Bone Tumour Registry was performed. Presenting symptoms and were related to tumour grade and duration of disease free status and survival. Pain, swelling and loss of function were the most common presenting features. Rapid progression of pain was significantly associated with high-grade tumours. Longer duration of symptoms from onset to presentation was associated with low-grade tumours. High-grade tumour and metastasis at diagnosis were associated with poor prognosis. Thus, patients with a longer history of symptoms actually appear to have longer disease free survival after presentation. Expert opinion should be sought for patients presenting with pain, swelling and loss of function. Practitioners should make prompt referral of patients presenting with pain that is rapidly increasing in severity.