A Rare Case of Thyroid Cartilage Chondroma: Diagnostic Challenges and the Role of Multimodal Imaging and Histopathology

Abstract

Chondromas are rare benign cartilaginous tumours, typically arising in the small bones of the hands and feet. Laryngeal chondromas are exceptionally uncommon and account for a very small proportion of head and neck neoplasms. We present a case of a 72-year-old male referred with a painless, slowly enlarging right-sided neck mass. Multimodal imaging, including ultrasound, CT, and MRI, revealed a well-circumscribed lesion with internal calcification arising from the thyroid cartilage. Differential diagnoses included chondroma and low-grade chondrosarcoma. Initial cytological assessment was inconclusive, prompting expert histopathological review, which confirmed a well-differentiated benign chondroid lesion consistent with a chondroma. The patient underwent successful surgical excision, and follow-up imaging over a four-year period has shown no evidence of recurrence. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges in distinguishing chondromas from malignant cartilaginous tumours in atypical locations, and emphasises the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, combining imaging, histology, and specialist input to guide management.