Primary Diagnosis

Multifocal chordoma.

Secondary Diagnosis

N/A

Diagnosis Discussion

Chordomas are relatively rare tumors arising from the primitive notochord remanants of the spine, therefore, they occur in predictable locations. The most common locations are at the sacrococcygeal (50%), skull base/clivus (35%) followed by the spine (15%). There is a predeliction for the C2 vertebral body. On imaging, these are well marginated, multiloculated tumors with minimal internal enhancement. In this case, the tumor is multifocal, with lesions at the level of the clivus and the lower cervical spine (C5). While the tumor is well marginated, its unrelenting propensity to invade normal anatomic spaces (e.g. the epidural space and the vertebral artery) makes treatment difficult and recurrence is common.

General Anatomic Area:

Cervical

Secondary Anatomic Area:

N/A

Disease Category:

Neoplastic - primary

Contributor:

AE Flanders, MD

Date:

03/01/2004

Difficulty Level:

Medium

Pathology Confirmed?:

Yes
Click here for more info

ACR Category Number:

N/A

Keywords:

chordoma, osteocartilagenous tumors, chondrosarcoma