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Imaging characteristics of metastatic chordoma

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Abstract

Purpose

Our aim was to describe the incidence and sites of metastatic chordomas and show their characteristic computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) findings.

Materials and methods

One hundred ninety-eight chordoma patients were registered in the institutional database and were followed up with CT and MR examinations for periods ranging from 1 to 158 months. Clinical features and CT and MR findings of metastatic chordomas were analyzed by two radiologists.

Results

We counted 86 metastatic sites in 49 of 198 patients. The incidence of metastasis was 24.7 %. Sites of metastases were bone, lung, liver, lymph node, muscle, skin, pleura, cerebellum, cardiac muscle, pericardium, and adrenal gland. Duration from the diagnosis to the first detection of metastasis ranged from 0 to 600 months, with an average of 45.0 months. Osteolytic lesions were most common bone metastases, but osteosclerotic metastasis was also encountered. Metastatic chordoma showed very high intensity on diffusion-weighted (DW) images in 29 of 31 patients.

Conclusion

Metastases of chordoma are not rare and may occur several years after primary lesion presentation. The high intensity of DW images is characteristic and helpful for detecting metastatic chordoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center Hospital for Charged Particle Therapy, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan

    Riwa Kishimoto, Tokuhiko Omatsu, Azusa Hasegawa, Reiko Imai, Susumu Kandatsu & Tadashi Kamada

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  1. Riwa Kishimoto
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  2. Tokuhiko Omatsu
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  3. Azusa Hasegawa
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  4. Reiko Imai
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  5. Susumu Kandatsu
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  6. Tadashi Kamada
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Correspondence to Riwa Kishimoto.

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Kishimoto, R., Omatsu, T., Hasegawa, A. et al. Imaging characteristics of metastatic chordoma. Jpn J Radiol 30, 509–516 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-012-0086-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-012-0086-3

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