Aggressive Subtypes of Laryngeal Chondrosarcoma and their Clinical Behavior: A Systematic Review

Cesare Piazza; Claudia Montenegro; Michele Tomasoni; Ilmo Leivo; Göran Stenman; Abbas Agaimy; Roderick H W Simpson; Nina Zidar; Alfio Ferlito

doi:10.1007/s40487-024-00323-1

Aggressive Subtypes of Laryngeal Chondrosarcoma and their Clinical Behavior: A Systematic Review

Oncol Ther. 2025 Jan 5. doi: 10.1007/s40487-024-00323-1. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Cesare Piazza^{1

2}, Claudia Montenegro^{3

4}, Michele Tomasoni¹, Ilmo Leivo^{5

6}, Göran Stenman⁷, Abbas Agaimy⁸, Roderick H W Simpson⁹, Nina Zidar¹⁰, Alfio Ferlito¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Unit of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
² Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
³ Unit of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. [email protected].
⁴ Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. [email protected].
⁵ Institute of Biomedicine, Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
⁶ Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland.
⁷ Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Pathology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁸ Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
⁹ Department of Anatomical Pathology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁰ Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
¹¹ Coordinator of the International Head and Neck Scientific Group, Padua, Italy.

PMID: 39755983
DOI: 10.1007/s40487-024-00323-1

Abstract

Introduction: Laryngeal chondrosarcoma (CS) is a rare indolent malignant tumor. High-grade (G3), dedifferentiated (DD), and myxoid (MY) CSs are considered more aggressive subtypes due to their metastatic potential and relatively poor outcomes. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate treatment modalities and survival outcomes in patients affected by these rarer CS subtypes.

Methods: Papers published from January 1, 2000, to August 25, 2024, describing cases of laryngeal G3, DD, and MY CS were included.

Results: A total of 38 patients (15 G3, 13 DD, and 10 MY) were selected. Cricoid cartilage was the most common site of origin. Total laryngectomy (TL) was often performed. Primary conservative approaches in 42.8% of patients were followed by loco-regional recurrence.

Conclusions: Aggressive subtypes of CS require a radical approach because of the higher rate of loco-regional and distant recurrences compared to low-grade CS. TL with radical intent is the most common treatment, and adjuvant therapy should be considered after careful multidisciplinary discussion.

Keywords: Chondrosarcoma; Dedifferentiated; High grade; Laryngeal tumors; Myxoid.

Publication types

Review