Chordomas of the upper cervical spine: radiographic evaluation. Study of two cases and review of the literature

Chordomas are rare bony tumors, usually involving the skull base and sacrococcygeal spine, while least presented in cervical and thoracic spine. Chordomas of the cervical spine may cause variable neurological symptoms. Adult patients presenting with neck pain, paresthesias or limb paresis are furthe...

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Published inEuropean journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 3 - 8
Main Authors Kokkinis, K., Vlychou, M., Stathopoulou, S., Lazoura, O., Makris, N., Evangelopoulos, D., Benetos, I., Papadaki, P., Korres, D. S.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Paris Springer-Verlag 2008
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Case Report
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Surgical Orthopedics
Traumatic Surgery
Chordoma
CT
Scanner
Rachiscervical
MRI
IRM
Chordome
Cervical spine
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Summary:Chordomas are rare bony tumors, usually involving the skull base and sacrococcygeal spine, while least presented in cervical and thoracic spine. Chordomas of the cervical spine may cause variable neurological symptoms. Adult patients presenting with neck pain, paresthesias or limb paresis are further investigated. The history of progressive tetraparesis, however, implies a long-standing disease. Clinical presentation and imaging investigation of the cervical spine chordoma aims to alert the physicians for its early detection. Herein is reported the clinical presentation of two chordomas with progressive tetraparesis in two patients involving in both cases the third cervical vertebra. Plain radiographs, bone scintigraphy, CT and MR scanning were the imaging modalities depicting the mass, its prevertebral and intraspinal extension.
ISSN:1633-8065
1432-1068
DOI:10.1007/s00590-007-0250-0