{"id":"3c2f4c87-b01f-4c33-b074-dcce1fde5257","slug":"sni-17-505","title":"Primary chondrosarcoma arising from the L5 transverse process: A rare cause of chronic low back pain","authors":["Mert Arslan"],"abstract":"Background: Chronic low back pain is a highly prevalent condition; however, primary spinal malignancies, though rare, carry critical clinical implications. Chondrosarcoma is a slow-growing malignant bone tumor, with spinal involvement accounting for <10% of cases. Tumors originating from the posterior vertebral elements, particularly the transverse process, are exceedingly uncommon and frequently result in delayed diagnosis due to their indolent clinical course. Case Description: We present a 51-year-old male with a 5-year history of intermittent low back pain who developed a progressively noticeable lumbar mass. Advanced imaging demonstrated a heterogeneous, partially calcified lesion arising from the left L5 transverse process with extension into the adjacent paraspinal soft tissues. Histopathological evaluation confirmed a Grade 1 chondrosarcoma. The patient underwent en bloc resection of the tumor, including the involved transverse process, through a posterior approach under intraoperative neuromonitoring. Postoperative imaging showed no radiological evidence of residual tumor; no adjuvant therapy was administered. At the 1-year follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic with no radiological evidence of recurrence. Conclusion: Primary chondrosarcoma of the lumbar transverse process represents an exceptionally rare entity that should be considered in patients presenting with long-standing back pain accompanied by a palpable or fixed paraspinal mass or other suspicious imaging findings. Completeen blocsurgical resection remains the cornerstone of treatment and was associated with a favorable early outcome in this case, though long-term surveillance is essential, given the potential for late recurrence.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/sni-17-505/figures/SNI-17-505-g003.jpg","publishDate":"2026-09-04T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_758_2026","categories":["Neuro-oncology","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/3c2f4c87-b01f-4c33-b074-dcce1fde5257/pdf"}