Cellular atypia increases with poorly differentiated tumors. Grade 1 tumors resemble normal cartilage closely, with little deviation from normal histology. Grade 3 tumors can show considerable cellular atypia. More aggressive grades show areas of necrosis and hemorrhage. The myxoid variant exhibits areas of myxomatous matrix.
Most chondrosarcomas are slow growing, indolent tumors.
Larger tumors behave more aggressively than smaller tumors. As with all sarcomas, spread is preferentially through the vascular tree. Tumors are rare in the distal extremities. Common in central portions of the skeleton including the pelvis, shoulders and ribs. Presenting symptoms are usually of a painful enlarging mass.