Insights Into The Clinical Presentation And Management Of Sellar Chondrosarcomas

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Chondrosarcomas are a malignant shape of bony crab that is composed of cartilage-forming tumor cells. Sellar chondrosarcomas, which hap successful nan sellar region astatine nan guidelines of nan skull, are a very uncommon manifestation of chondrosarcoma, making up only astir 0.2% of each tumors recovered successful nan skull. Historically, transcranial (or done nan skull) room is nan main curen action for these tumors - however, pinch nan advancement of room techniques, much non-invasive options person go celebrated for treatment. More specifically, endonasal endoscopic surgery, wherein a bladed conduit called an endoscope is inserted into nan chemoreceptor to thief visualize and region tumors, is now being often adopted for nan resection aliases surgical removal of sellar chondrosarcomas.

Now, successful a study published online connected 26 June 2025 successful nan Chinese Neurological Journal, a squad led by Professor SongBai Gui from Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, has evaluated nan objective outcomes of endoscopic resection successful sellar chondrosarcomas. To execute this, they reviewed nan cases of 4 patients pinch sellar chondrosarcomas who underwent tumor resection done an endonasal endoscopic attack (EEA). In addition, they reviewed 8 cases of sellar chondrosarcomas that were antecedently reported successful different studies.

The accusation from nan lit reappraisal was past integrated pinch nan lawsuit bid to talk nan symptoms and distinguishing features of these tumors. This study is peculiarly important arsenic location is still a very constricted knowing of sellar chondrosarcomas. "Sellar chondrosarcomas are very rare, and often misdiagnosed arsenic different communal sellar lesions," Prof. Gui notes. "To date, their objective position arsenic good arsenic their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis person yet to beryllium good understood."

Their results showed that among nan 12 patients studied (who had a median property of 28.5 years), nan astir communal objective presentations were blurring of vision, which was observed successful two-thirds of nan patients, and headaches, which were observed successful half nan patients. In summation to this, a 3rd of nan patients presented pinch immoderate shape of endocrine disorder, which could return to normal aft surgery.

However, since galore features of sellar chondrosarcomas overlap pinch different tumors recovered successful nan aforesaid region, nan authors observed that their preoperative test (or test anterior to surgery) remains challenging. This is demonstrated by nan study that among nan 12 patients studied, only 1 was really diagnosed pinch sellar chondrosarcoma anterior to surgery. The different patients were misdiagnosed pinch different akin forms of tumors known arsenic chordomas, invasive non-functioning pituitary adenoma (INPA), aliases craniopharyngioma.

To tackle this, nan authors supply immoderate recommendations connected utilizing imaging data, specifically MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and CT (Computed Tomography), arsenic good arsenic objective information to accurately diagnose sellar chondrosarcomas and debar misdiagnoses. Elaborating connected nan method aspects of this, Prof. Gui suggests to clinicians that "when a diligent has a sellar calcified wide which presents pinch intact aliases somewhat disturbed anterior pituitary function, MRI sequences pinch heterogeneous enhancement and nary diffusion restriction, on pinch CT scans showing surrounding bony demolition and attachment, a chondrosarcoma should beryllium preferentially suspected."

Put simply, this intends that sellar chondrosarcomas typically coming pinch intact aliases only somewhat disturbed functioning of nan anterior pituitary gland, which releases hormones specified arsenic thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin, which modulate various bodily functions. In addition, MRI features specified arsenic non-uniform awesome strength wrong a wide and nary diffusion regularisation (i.e., free h2o activity successful a tissue), arsenic good arsenic CT scan features specified arsenic bony demolition and tumor relationship pinch bony tissue, are each indications that a sellar chondrosarcoma should beryllium suspected.

Finally, nan study besides touches upon nan objective guidance of these tumors. Out of nan 12 patients studied, complete resection aliases complete removal of nan tumor was achieved successful only 7 cases, while nan different 5 showed incomplete tumor resection. "Complete resection is, of course, nan optimal extremity for nan guidance of sellar chondrosarcoma, but adjuvant radiotherapy, if required, and periodic follow-up should beryllium prioritized arsenic well," Prof. Gui explains, recommending postoperative radiotherapy for patients pinch definite residual aliases recurrent disease.

Overall, this study provides important insights into a illness that is not only uncommon but besides often misdiagnosed, serving arsenic a valuable assets for clinicians and their patients. 

Source:

Journal reference:

Ma, G., et al. (2025). EEA for sellar chodrosarcomas: lawsuit bid pinch lit review. Chinese Neurosurgical Journal. doi.org/10.1186/s41016-025-00397-4.

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