Clear cell chondrosarcoma

This is a rare low-grade malignant cartilaginous tumour of bone, characterized by the presence of clear cells. There are immunohistochemical similarities to chondroblastoma.

Immunohistochemistry, compared with conventional chondrosarcoma and chondroblastoma:

	clear cell chondrosarcoma	conventional chondrosarcoma, grade I	chondroblastoma
S-100	positive	positive	positive
type II collagen	positive	positive	positive
CD68	positive in osteoclasts only	negative	positive in osteoclasts only
MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase)	positive in osteoclasts only	negative	positive in osteoclasts only
parathyroid hormone-like protein	positive	negative	positive
platelet-derived growth factor	positive	negative	positive
platelet-derived growth factor receptor	positive	negative	positive

The PCNA-positive rate is higher in clear cell chondrosarcoma than in chondroblastoma.

Differential diagnosis

chondroblastoma
giant cell tumour
osteoblastic tumours

References

Masui, F., Ushigome, S., Fujii, K. Clear cell chondrosarcoma: a pathological and immunohistochemical study Histopathology 1999;34:447-452.

This page last revised 7.9.2001.