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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-SASurgical neurology international

Primary lumbar mesenchymal chondrosarcoma mimicking a cauda equina tumor: An exceptionally rare spinal tumor.

  • Heng Yu Wei1
  • Chan Wei Wen1,2
  • Nishan Rao Subramaniam1,2
  • Moventhiran Ramakrishnan1,2
  • Saiful Azli Bin Mat Nayan1
  1. 1Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Jalan Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia.
  2. 2Unit of Neurosurgery, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Abstract

Background

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MCS) is a rare, high-grade malignant tumor characterized by aggressive biological behavior, frequent local recurrence, and distant metastasis. Spinal involvement is exceedingly uncommon, with lumbar MCS representing an exceptionally rare entity; fewer than 10 cases have been reported in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second reported case from Malaysia, with the first published in 1983.Case description

A 19-year-old male presented with a 6-month history of progressive back pain, bilateral lower limb weakness, and sphincter dysfunction. Neurological examination demonstrated complete paraplegia with a sensory level at L2. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a destructive L3-L4 vertebral lesion with an associated heterogeneously enhancing intradural cauda equina mass. The patient underwent posterior decompression and gross total microsurgical excision of the tumor. Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings confirmed the diagnosis of MCS.Conclusion

Lumbar spinal MCS is an exceptionally rare and aggressive malignancy with non-specific clinical and radiological features that may delay diagnosis. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for this rare entity and demonstrates that early recognition and complete surgical excision remain the cornerstone of management.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{wei2026primary,
  title = {{Primary lumbar mesenchymal chondrosarcoma mimicking a cauda equina tumor: An exceptionally rare spinal tumor.}},
  author = {Heng Yu Wei and Chan Wei Wen and Nishan Rao Subramaniam and Moventhiran Ramakrishnan and Saiful Azli Bin Mat Nayan},
  journal = {Surgical neurology international},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.25259/sni_833_2026},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974237},
  note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Primary lumbar mesenchymal chondrosarcoma mimicking a cauda equina tumor: An exceptionally rare spinal tumor.
AU  - Heng Yu Wei
AU  - Chan Wei Wen
AU  - Nishan Rao Subramaniam
AU  - Moventhiran Ramakrishnan
AU  - Saiful Azli Bin Mat Nayan
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/09
JO  - Surgical neurology international
DO  - 10.25259/sni_833_2026
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974237
AB  - Background  Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MCS) is a rare, high-grade malignant tumor characterized by aggressive biological behavior, frequent local recurrence, and distant metastasis. Spinal involvement is exceedingly uncommon, with lumbar MCS representing an exceptionally rare entity; fewer than 10 cases have been reported in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second reported case from Malaysia, with the first published in 1983.Case description  A 19-year-old male presented with a 6-month history of progressive back pain, bilateral lower limb weakness, and sphincter dysfunction. Neurological examination demonstrated complete paraplegia with a sensory level at L2. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a destructive L3-L4 vertebral lesion with an associated heterogeneously enhancing intradural cauda equina mass. The patient underwent posterior decompression and gross total microsurgical excision of the tumor. Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings confirmed the diagnosis of MCS.Conclusion  Lumbar spinal MCS is an exceptionally rare and aggressive malignancy with non-specific clinical and radiological features that may delay diagnosis. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for this rare entity and demonstrates that early recognition and complete surgical excision remain the cornerstone of management.
SN  - 2229-5097
SN  - 2152-7806
ER  -