Chordomas are rare and aggressive tumors derived from notochordal remnants, usually arising in the axial skeleton. The most frequently reported anatomic distribution of chordoma is 50% sacral, 35% spheno-occipital and 15% spinal. We describe the case of an elderly lady presenting with progressive dysphagia, headache and neck pain. We found an expansile mass extending from C1 to C3. While running the diagnostic plan we considered a variety of lesions possibly involving the cervical spine. Biopsy revealed the mass was a chordoma.
YamaguchiTYamatoMSaotomeK. First histologically confirmed case of a classic chordoma arising in a precursor benign notochordal lesion: Differential diagnosis of benign and malignant notochordal lesions. Skeletal Radiol.2002; 31: 413–418.
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YamaguchiTWatanabe-IshiiwaHSuzukiS. Incipient chordoma: A report of two cases of early-stage chordoma. Mod Pathol.2005; 18: 1005–1010.