This information is about chondrosarcoma in adults. It includes how it’s diagnosed and treated, as well as information on the different types of chondrosarcoma.
We also have information about chondrosarcoma in children, and in teenagers and young adults.
What is chondrosarcoma?
Chondrosarcoma is a type of bone cancer, also known as bone sarcoma. It’s the most common type of bone cancer. It mostly affects adults above the age of 40.
When we grow, our bones have areas called growth plates that contain cartilage-type cells. These cells should disappear when we finish growing, but if they do not, they can become a chondrosarcoma. Joint cartilage is the flexible, tough tissue found in your joints.
Chondrosarcoma can happen anywhere in the body. The most common places it affects are the:
- thigh bone (femur)
- upper arm (humerus)
- pelvis
- shoulder blade (scapula)
- ribs.
Symptoms of chondrosarcoma
Symptoms of chondrosarcoma can vary depending on the size and location of your tumour.
You may have:
- bone pain, particularly at night
- a lump or swelling in the affected area
- weakness in a limb
- difficulty moving a joint
- fractures in the affected bone, in rare cases.
These symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for other conditions, like sports injuries.
If you have ongoing bone pain, or swelling that does not improve, contact your GP.
Types of chondrosarcoma
Conventional chondrosarcoma
Conventional chondrosarcoma is the most common type of chondrosarcoma. It can affect any bone. Tumours mostly grow inside the bone. They can also appear outside of the bones, but this is rare.
The most common places to get conventional chondrosarcoma are the:
- thigh bone (femur)
- upper arm (humerus)
- pelvis
- shoulder blade (scapula)
- ribs.
If your doctor thinks you have chondrosarcoma, you may have a biopsy. Sometimes the diagnosis is made from scans alone. A biopsy is a very safe procedure that involves taking a small sample of the tumour tissue.
A pathologist (doctor of cells) will look at your biopsy cells under a microscope to find out if it’s chondrosarcoma. If it is, they will work out the grade of your tumour.
- The grade of a tumour means how fast it is likely to grow. Conventional chondrosarcoma is usually slow-growing and low grade (1 or 2).
- Some low-grade tumours may be called atypical cartilaginous tumours (ACT), depending on where they are in the body.
- High-grade tumours (grade 3) are less common. Ask your doctor what your grade means for your chondrosarcoma and your treatment.
We also have more information about staging and grading of sarcomas.
Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma
Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma is a rare subtype. It makes up less than 1% of all chondrosarcomas diagnosed.
This type of chondrosarcoma is high-grade and grows faster than conventional chondrosarcoma. It also has a higher chance of coming back in the same place (recurring) or spreading to another part of the body (metastasis).
Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma commonly affects the:
- thigh bone (femur)
- pelvis.
Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma
Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is a very rare subtype, making up less than 1% of cases.
This type of chondrosarcoma is high-grade and fast-growing. It also has a higher chance of coming back (recurring) or spreading to another part of the body (metastasis).
Unlike other types of chondrosarcoma, it can affect anywhere in the body, in the bones or the soft tissue. Around 30% of cases affect the soft tissue.
Clear cell chondrosarcoma
Clear cell chondrosarcoma is a very rare subtype, making up less than 1% of cases. It is a low-grade chondrosarcoma, meaning it is slow-growing.
It commonly affects the bones in the arms and legs.
See your GP if you have:
- bone pain that does not go away
- bone pain that gets worse at night or wakes you up
- a lump or swelling that is getting bigger
- difficulty moving a joint
- an unexplained fracture.
Diagnosing chondrosarcoma
If your GP thinks you have chondrosarcoma, they will refer you to a bone sarcoma specialist centre for tests.
You may have:
- blood tests to check your general health
- an X-ray to take images of your bones and potential tumours
- an MRI scan, which uses a magnetic field to create an image of the tissues in your body
- a CT scan, which may be useful to assess the bone around the area in more detail
- a biopsy, which takes a sample of tissue to examine under a microscope.
You may have more than one of these tests. This is so your doctor can understand what type of chondrosarcoma you have and plan the best treatment for you.
Treating chondrosarcoma
The most effective treatment for chondrosarcoma is surgery. The type of surgery you have depends on where the cancer is and how far it has spread.
Surgery for the limbs (arms and legs)
There are 2 main types of surgery for the limbs:
- Limb-sparing surgery.
- Amputation.
Limb-sparing surgery involves taking out the affected bone and muscle and reconstructing the limb with a:
- bone graft (bone taken from another part of the body or donor)
- prosthetic limb (artificial part of an arm or leg, usually made of metal).
Amputation is the removal of the whole arm or leg, or part of it. You will have an amputation only if limb-sparing surgery is not possible.
Surgery for the trunk (chest, abdomen or pelvis)
Surgery in the trunk is more complex because the tumour may be near your organs. Surgery might involve removing part of the affected bone or organ.
Ask your doctor to explain what your surgery will involve.
Other treatments
In some cases, you may also have:
- Chemotherapy, which is a medicine that kills cancer cells.
- Radiotherapy, which uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells.
These treatments could be used before or after surgery to treat chondrosarcoma.
After treatment
After treatment for chondrosarcoma, you might benefit from rehabilitation.
This might include:
- occupational therapy to help you with daily tasks or activities
- physiotherapy to help restore movement and function
- seeing a dietitian to make sure you’re getting the right nutrition
- seeing an orthotics and prosthetics specialist to help with supportive equipment or artificial limbs (if you’ve had an amputation).
Rehabilitation usually starts after treatment. However, with bone sarcoma, you may find that it helps to start rehabilitation earlier.
You should be referred to rehabilitation services by your team of doctors. If not, you should ask for a referral as soon as possible.
Find out more about sarcoma rehabilitation on our rehabilitation hub.
Recurrence
Sometimes, chondrosarcoma can come back in the same place it was found originally. This is called a local recurrence. A recurrence of cancer may appear in other parts of the body, too. This is called a metastasis or secondary cancer.
With chondrosarcoma, secondary cancer can appear in the lungs. You will have chest X-rays during follow-up care to look for secondary cancers in the lung.
Living with chondrosarcoma
Living with chondrosarcoma can be difficult. We have support to help you with your mental health, physical health, and we also have information about financial support. No matter what you’re worried about, we’re here to support you.
If you have any more questions about chondrosarcoma, or if you need to talk to someone, our Support Line team are here for you.
Follow-up care
After your treatment has finished, you may have follow-up appointments to check your recovery, or to check if your chondrosarcoma has come back. Your treatment team will let you know how many years of follow-up you need.
Follow-up might include:
- a physical examination
- blood tests
- limb X-rays or MRI scans to check if your chondrosarcoma has come back (recurred)
- checking on the reconstruction surgery you have had
- chest X-rays to check if your chondrosarcoma has spread to the lungs.
Remember, if you have any symptoms between your follow-up appointments, tell your doctor or clinical nurse specialist (CNS) immediately.
More support
Call the Sarcoma UK Support Line
The Sarcoma UK Support Line is here for every person affected by sarcoma. Get in touch for friendly, expert, confidential and free advice on anything to do with sarcoma.
Support groups
There are a number of sarcoma support groups across the UK. We have more information about support groups available online and in your local area.
Order our bone sarcoma booklet
Our booklet includes more information about bone sarcoma. Order our bone sarcoma information booklet from our shop for free.
Other charities
- Bone Cancer Research Trust: The BCRT offers support for people with primary bone cancer. They have health information and support available.
- Maggie’s: Maggie’s is a charity that offers advice and support for adults and young people living with cancer.
- Penny Brohn: Penny Brohn has a lot of support for people who have just been diagnosed or are living with cancer. This includes resources, online sessions, and counselling.
- Shine Cancer Support: Shine Cancer Support is a charity connecting people with cancer experience. This is through online programmes and in-person support groups. They support people in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s.
- Macmillan: Macmillan Cancer Support have a lot of information about cancer diagnosis, treatment, and after treatment.
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Last reviewed April 2026 | Next review due April 2029
All references are available upon request. Please email info@sarcoma.org.uk
