The ultrasound orientation in chondrosarcoma of the rib

The ultrasound investigation is very important in describing some abnormal aspects.

Aim: The presentation of the echographic aspect of a formation developed on left ribs lattice with profound abdominal extension and pseudo kidney ultrasonographic description which after the surgery and biopsy has been demonstrated to be a chondrosarcoma of the rib.

Patients and method: We are describing the case of a 56 years old woman which had pain and felt the apparition of a swelling in the left ribs lattice about 3/2cm in surface, being examined under ultrasound, CT and bone scintigraphy with the observation of a tumoral aspect.

Results: The ultrasound has described on the left rib lattice the presence of an ovoidal tumoral formation with profound posterior development about 7/6/5cm in size with relatively regular outline, peripheral hypodensity and central hyperdensity, non homogenous with intense linear and scattered pointy echoes inside which was imprinting the medium third region of the spleen. The data have been confirmed with tomography and scintigraphy. Tumorectomy and biopsy has shown a chondrosarcoma, affecting the bone and the soft parts of the thorax.

Conclusions:

1. The ultrasound has observed the presence of a particular tumoral formation with profound development starting from the 10th rib level directing other diagnostic explorations.

2. The aspect described echographically as a large, non homogenous, extensive, hypodense formation with intense echogenic calcium debris inside without visceral or ganglionar determinations has permitted the assessment of the evolutive tumoral risk. 3. The echographic orientation and the biopsy evaluated the chondrosarcoma.