Formation of cartilage by tumor cells

Site: < 1% in head and neck

Clinical:

• Painless/ painful swelling
• Loosening of teeth

Histology:

• Cartilage showing varying degree of maturation
• Cartilage tissue with pleomorphic, binucleated chondrocytes + mitosis

Grade I:

• Chondroid matrix + chondroblasts
• Mimics a chondroma
• Rarely mitosis

Grade II:

• More myxoid matrix
• Pleomorphism with moderate nuclei
• Low mitotic rate

Grade III:

• Rare
• Highly cellular
• Spindle cell proliferation
• Prominent mitosis

Management:

• Radical surgical excision
• Locally aggressive + metastasis (lung)

Picture