Cause of Paraparesia in Childhood: Spinal Chondrosarcoma

Chondrosarcomas are common primary malignant bone tumors that are mostly seen in adulthood. Spinal involvement is uncommon among all sites of involvement of the tumor; spinal chondrosarcoma in childhood is particularly rare. Here we present the imaging findings of a spinal lowgrade chondrosarcoma in a 7-year-old boy, which was later surgically excised and pathologically proven. Differentiation of chondrosarcoma from other spinal tumors may be difficult in cases of indeterminate tumoral origin in spinal compartments, and it may require a multi-modal imaging approach. Demonstration of dural interface is very important for an accurate diagnosis. Also, changes in the neural foraminal width and vertebral architecture and the integrity of the spinal cord are important criteria for differential diagnosis.