Cartilaginous tumors of the ribs

Thirty-five cases of cartilaginous tumors of the ribs–8 benign and 27 malignant–were treated at the Memorial Hospital. There were 13 females and 22 males, with an age range from 2 to 65 years. The benign tumors were divided into sessile juxtacortical chondromas, osteochondromas, and enchondromas. The treatment and prognosis of these cases were compared to those chondromas which, although benign histologically, recurred and acted as locally malignant. Patients with chondrosarcomas were divided into 2 groups, with a diagnosis of border line or malignant tumor. The latter group was subdivided into Grades I-III and fulminating undifferentiated types. The clinical setting and treatment, as well as the gross and histologic criteria, were evaluated. Tumors were graded microscopically and related to the patients' cure rate and survival.