Final answer:
Chondrosarcoma is the type of cancerous tumor that occurs in the cartilage, distinct from tumors like osteosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma which affect bones and skeletal muscle tissue respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a physician has discovered a cancerous tumor in the cartilage of a patient, the type of tumor is known as a Chondrosarcoma. This is a type of sarcoma, which is a neoplastic process originating within connective tissue, specifically affecting cells known as chondrocytes that are responsible for the synthesis and maintenance of cartilaginous matrix and fibers. Unlike osteosarcoma which occurs in bones, Ewing sarcoma is also a bone tumor but with different characteristics and genetic implications, and rhabdomyosarcoma arises from skeletal muscle tissue. Chondrosarcoma is thus distinct as it arises from cartilage cells, which are found embedded within a large amount of extracellular matrix (ECM) and lie within spaces called lacunae.