Skip to main content

Chordomas of the Clivus and Upper Cervical Spine

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Tumors of the Central Nervous System, Volume 6

Part of the book series: Tumors of the Central Nervous System ((TCNS,volume 6))

  • 1164 Accesses

Abstract

Chordomas are challenging tumours which usually occur in the axial ­skeleton, and are particularly difficult to manage when they are situated in the clivus and upper cervical spine due to the proximity of eloquent structures. They also have a tendency for local recurrence since enbloc resection is rarely possible in these locations. They have characteristic radiological appearances on MRI, and pathologically are characterised by the presence of Physallipherous cells. The mainstay of treatment is maximal tumour excision at the time of first presentation, followed by high dose radiation treatment such as proton beam irradiation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Carpentier A, Polivka M, Blanquet A, Lot G, George B (2002) Suboccipital and cervical chordomas: the value of aggressive treatment at first presentation of the disease. J Neurosurg 97:1070–1077

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Choi D, Melcher R, Harms J, Crockard A (2010) Outcome of 132 operations in 97 patients with chordomas of the craniocervical junction and upper cervical spine. Neurosurgery 61(1):59–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colli BO, Al-Mefty O (2001) Chordomas of the skull base: follow-up review and prognostic factors. Neurosurgery 95:933–943

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crockard HA (1985) The transoral approach to the base of the brain and upper cervical cord. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 67:321–325

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crockard HA, Johnston F (1993) Development of transoral approaches to lesions of the skull base and craniocervical junction. Neurosurg Q 3:61–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson B, Gunterberg B, Kindblom LG (1981) Chordoma: a clinicopathological and prognostic study of a Swedish National series. Acta Orthop Scand 52:49–58

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forsyth PA, Cascino TL, Shaw EG, Scheithauer BW, O’Fallon JR, Dozier JC, Piepgras DG (1993) Intracranial chordomas: a clinicopathological and prognostic study of 51 cases. J Neurosurg 78:741–747

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Foweraker KL, Burton KE, Maynard SE, Jena R, Jefferies SJ, Laing RJC, Burnet NG (2007) High-dose radiotherapy in the management of chordoma and chondrosarcoma of the skull base and cervical spine: part 1- clinical outcomes. Clin Oncol 19:509–516

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gay E, Sekhar LN, Rubinstein E, Wright DC, Sen C, Janecka IP, Snyderman CH (1995) Chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the cranial base: results and follow-up of 60 patients. Neurosurgery 36:887–897

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg AD, Scoville WB, Davey LM (1968) Transoral decompression of atlanto-axial dislocation due to odontoid hypoplasia. Report of two cases. J Neurosurg 28:266–269

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grison C (1967) Direct surgical approach by oral route to the first 2 cervical vertebrae. J Fr Otorhinolaryngol Audiophonol Chir Maxillofac 16:271–273

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harbour JW, Lawton MT, Criscuolo GR, Holliday MJ, Mattox DE, Long DM (1991) Clivus chordoma: a report of 12 recent cases and review of the literature. Skull Base Surg 1:200–206

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holton JL, Steel T, Luxsuwong M, Crockard HA, Revesz T (2000) Skull base chordomas: correlation of tumour doubling time with age, mitosis and Ki67 proliferation index. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 26:497–503

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hug EB, Loredo LN, Slater JD, DeVries A, Grove RI, Schaefer RA, Rosenberg AE, Slater JM (2000) Proton radiation therapy for chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the skull base. J Neurosurg 91:432–439

    Google Scholar 

  • James D, Crockard HA (1991) Surgical access to the base of the skull and upper cervical spine by extended maxillotomy. Neurosurgery 29:411–416

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Menezes AH, Van Gilder JC, Graf CJ, McDonnell DE (1980) Craniocervical abnormalities. A comprehensive surgical approach. J Neurosurg 53:444–455

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pallini R, Maira G, Pierconti F, Falchetti ML, Alvino E, Cimino-Reale G, Fernandez E, D’Ambrosio E, Larocca LM (2003) Chordoma of the skull base: predictors of tumor recurrence. J Neurosurg 98:1256–1262

    Google Scholar 

  • Rock PJ, Tomecek FJ, Ross L (1993) Transoral surgery: an anatomic study. Skull Base Surg 3(3):109–116

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tzortzidis F, Elahi F, Wright D, Natarajan SK, Sekhar LN (2006) Patient outcome at long-term follow-up after aggressive microsurgical resection of cranial base chordomas. Neurosurgery 59:230–237

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins L, Khudados ES, Kaleoglu M, Revesz T, Sacares P, Crockard HA (1993) Skull base chordomas: a review of 38 patients, 1958-88. Br J Neurosurg 7:241–248

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Choi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Choi, D. (2012). Chordomas of the Clivus and Upper Cervical Spine. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Tumors of the Central Nervous System, Volume 6. Tumors of the Central Nervous System, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2866-0_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2866-0_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-2865-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-2866-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics