• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.131-134
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• 2001

Cytologic features of conventional chordoma have been described and most reports emphasize the presence of large cells with numerous well defined cytoplasmic vacuoles or physaliferous cells. We report fine needle aspiration cytologlc (FNAC) findings of a case of chordoma without physaliferous cells. The smear was cellular and composed of large cohesive clusters or individually scattered cells in mucinous background. The round or cuboidal cells had centrally located nuclei with fine granular chromatin, inconspicuous nucleoli, and occasional vacuolated cytoplasm. Mild to moderate pleomorphism was noted. Physaliferous cells are extremely helpful when present in cytologic material, but they are not necessary for diagnosis. Thus clinical history, roentgenographic appearance, and exact location of the lesion are required for the successful Interpretation of presacral aspirates together with cytologic findings.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.295-300
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• 1988

Chordoma is a malignant tumor arising from the primitive notochord involving the axial skeleton. It usually occurs at sacrococcygeal and besisphenoidal area but only rarely does at other vertebral areas, especially at the thoracic vertebrae. It has a slow growth rate and is locally aggressive with an extremely high rate of local recurrence. Either surgery or radiation alone often fails to cure the disease and the local failure is the main cause of treatment failure and death. Overall 5 year survival rate is less than $10\%$. Useful palliation or occasional cure can be obtained by the combination of surgery and radiotherapy. After incomplete resection, the tumor requires radiation dose of 7,000 cGy or more over 6-7 weeks for local control. Tumor regression is slow in response to irradiation and continuation of the regression for several months after completion of RT is not unusual. We report a case of chordoma of the thoracic vertebra, the site of extreme rarity, which showed good local control after partial resection and radiation therapy. He is well and alive without any evidence of recurrence after 13 months of treatment with near complete tumor regression.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.199-203
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• 1995

Chordoma is relatively uncommon tumor comprising $1\sim4%$ of primary malignant bone tumors, and believed to arise from the remnants of notochordal tissue. Because of its rare occurrence in the thoracic spine, we report a case of chordoma involving the thoracic spine. A 45-year-old male was sufferred from chest pain radiating to the back. Chest CT showed a well marginated, round huge mass with multiseptated enhancement at the thoracic spine from T5 to T8 level. After percutaneous needle aspiration, piecemeal resection of the tumor was done. On cytologic smears, two types of neoplastic cells were arranged in sheets and cords in mucinous background. One type of cells consisted of medium sized cells with pink cytoplasm and round nuclei. The other type had voluminous bubbly or clear cytoplasm divided by intracytoplasmic septae imparting a feathery or basket-like appearance. Histologically, the tumor showed lobulated feature divided by fibrous septae and the tumor cells were pink eosinophilic or physaliphorous in morphology. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells revealed strong positivity for low(AE1) and high (AE3) molecular weight cytokeratins.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.494-496
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• 2010

Chordoma was described in the tail masses of two ferrets. Tail masses were surgically removed and submitted for diagnosis. On histopathology, the masses from both ferrets were almost similar each other. The mass was well-demarcated and composed of lobules or sheets of neoplastic cells. The neoplastic cells were round to polygonal with distinct cell border and contained marginally located round nucleus. The cytoplasm of neoplastic cells was highly vacuolated. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive to cytokerain, vimentin, and S-100. Based on these results, both cases were diagnosed as chordoma in ferrets. Recurrence was not noted since surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.231-233
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• 2006

The C2 level is the transition zone between the cranial and cervical spine. Because of its high position and anatomic relationship to vital structures, exposing C2 is challenging and the surgical approach is controversial. We report a of a recurred chordoma in C2 portion, occupying the osseous intraspinal portion. The patient underwent total corpectomy of C3 and gross total removal of tumor by right submandibular approach 3 years previously. We performed a lateral extrapharyngeal approach from contralateral left side with resection C2 central portion followed by gross total removal of mass and placement of graft bone. Although there was transient hypoglossal nerve palsy postoperatively, the patient had full recovery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.245-247
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• 2005

Most chordomas show extradural extension and bone destruction. A 32-year-old man presented with neck pain and progressive paraparesis. He had been diagnosed a clival chordoma and underwent an operation seven years ago. Radiological studies revealed that the tumor was recurred in a retroclival area and invaded into intradural region. We removed the tumor by two staged operations. After surgery, satisfactory results were achieved.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.369-375
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• 1999

Chordoma is a slow-growing malignant neoplasm arising from the remnants of the primitive notochord. It accounts for 1 to 4% of all malignant bone tumors. It occurs exclusively along the spinal axis. Authors experienced four cases of chordoma occurred in the sacrococcygeal region. There were two male and two female patients, with a mean age of 63.5 years(range, 57~75 years). Tissue was obtained by wide excision in two patients, by incisional biopsy in one patient and by needle biopsy in the other. Adjuvant radiation therapy was performed on all the patients after their biopsy. The mean diameter of the tumors was 7.6cm(range, 5.5 to 13.0cm). Grossly, tumor was multiobulated, soft and myxoid gelatinous mass. Microscopically, the tumor showed lobulated feature divided by fibrous septa within it. There were physaliphorous cells with vacuolated bubbly cytoplasm. And small uniform, round, and non-vacuolated tumor cells were also present. On immunohistochemical stain, all the cases were immunoreactive for cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen(EMA) and vimentin, respectively. One of the 4 cases was positive for S-100 protein. All the cases were negative for CEA.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.707-710
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• 2003

Chordomas are slowly growing and rare malignant tumors arising from the remnants of the notochord. Furthermore, intrathoracic chordomas presenting as a posterior mediastinal tumor account for only 1∼2％ of all reported chordomas. Incomplete resection of these tumors can lead to local recurrence, distant metastasis and result in a poor outcome, but complete remission can be expected with complete resection and adjuvant radiotherapy. We report a case of thoracic chordoma presenting as a posterior mediastinal tumor which was successfully treated with complete resection and adjuvant radiotherapy without recurrence and distant metastasis for 2 years.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.523-527
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• 2011

A 67-year-old woman presented for evaluation of severe coccygeal pain. The computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging showed an asymmetric midline sacral tumor invading the right lower portion of S2. To preserve both S2 nerve roots and to obtain negative surgical margins, a modified mid-sacrectomy with an aid of a computed navigation system was performed. The sacral tumor was excised en bloc with negative tumor margins. Both S2 nerve roots were preserved and additional reconstruction was not necessary because of minimal resection of the sacroiliac joint. We report a case of a sacral chordoma which was excised en bloc with adequate surgical margins by a computer-assisted modified mid-sacrectomy. The computed navigation system may be a useful tool for tumor targeting and safe osteotomies in sacral tumor surgery via the posterior only approach.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.163-164
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• 2017