The diagnosis and grading of chondrosarcoma of bone: a combined cytologic and histologic approach.

The diagnosis and grading of chondrosarcoma of bone is best established by a complementary study of its cytology, as observed in smeared preparations, and of its tissue structure and relationship to the host bone, as observed in histologic sections. Smeared preparations demonstrate the cytologic features of chondrosarcoma with greater clarity and detail than is possible with histologic sections. Histology is particularly helpful in the diagnosis of low-grade chondrosarcoma, through the demonstration of its invasive activity in relation to the host bone. The importance of grading chondrosarcoma is emphasized because of its relevance to the biological behaviour and prognosis of this tumor.