Chondrosarcoma Foundation Think Tank Topic 3: Diagnosis
On November 11 in Boca Raton, Florida; the Chondrosarcoma Foundation hosted its first Think Tank entitled: Advancing Chondrosarcoma Treatment, Preventing Disease Progression, Recurrence & Metastasis. The first three videos of the think tank have been posted on the Chondrosarcoma Foundation web site, and we invite you to view it.
The link to the video is: https://csfshayna.org/diagnosis/
If you wondered why, it is so difficult to diagnose chondrosarcoma then you will want to view this video.
This session looked at current and future efforts to improve the diagnosis of chondrosarcoma as well as the identification of the sub-types and grades. It also addressed future efforts to improve diagnosis, reduce misdiagnosis as well as discussing the role that genomic sequencing and transcriptional testing can have in improving diagnosis and preventing disease progression.
Adrienne Flannagan, M.D., is the Professor of Musculoskeletal Pathology, Research Department of Pathology, at University College in London, UK. In a short video, Dr. Flannagan discussed the challenges in diagnosing Chondrosarcoma, and difficulties pathologists have in identifying chondrosarcoma from other similar sarcomas such as synovial sarcoma and osteosarcoma. She indicates that specializing in pathology is critical in making accurate diagnoses as well as the need to continue research by joining forces and working across multiple sites.
John Gross, M.D., is a Faculty Assistant professor, specializing in bone and soft tissue surgical pathology at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Md. Dr. Gross provided a detailed overview with pictures on the sub-types, classification and grades of chondrosarcoma. He pointed out the complex karyotypes of molecular chromosome structure in chondrosarcoma that include a multitude of gene alterations. He indicates that diagnosing chondrosarcoma requires multiple datapoints, and a multidisciplinary approach including genomic and transcriptional testing.
Andrew Eric Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D.; is a pathologist in the Department of Pathology for the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami Health System in Miami, FL. Through a case study Dr. Rosenberg examined secondary chondrosarcoma arising from enchondromas. He shared evidence of disease progression from enchondromas to chondrosarcomas to dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas and indicated that patients who have chondrosarcoma progressing from enchondromas have longer survival rates. Dr. Rosenberg pointed out that the interpretation of the pathology is subjective and maybe interpreted differently among pathologists. He hopes that future technology (i.e. Artificial Intelligence) will assist in making interpretations more objective.