The cases of forty-six patients who had dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma
were reviewed. Two groups were identified: one in which a low-grade
malignant chondrosarcoma was the precursor lesion and one in which a
moderate to high-grade malignant chondrosarcoma was the precursor lesion.
The radiographic features of these lesions ranged from that of a
cartilaginous lesion that appeared to be benign to that of a destructive
osteolytic tumor in which the cartilaginous component was overshadowed by
the dedifferentiated component. Only three of the forty-six patients
survived for more than two years. Resection alone, even when it was wide or
radical, was not successful in controlling this lethal sarcoma.