Clinicopathological characteristics of mobile spinal chordoma

YANG Yongkun; NIU Xiaohui; LI Lan; DING Yi

Abstract：Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and the methods of diagnosis and treatment of chor?doma sites occurred in rare mobile spine. Methods The clinical data of six cases of spinal chordoma occurred in cervical, thoracic and lumbar from December 2001 to December 2013 in our center were analyzed, which including clinical manifestations, radiological features, pathological diagnosis, and surgical treatment. Results There were three cases in lumbar vertebrae, two cases in cervical vertebrae and one case in thoracic vertebrae. All cases received surgical treatment. The average postoperative follow?up time was 38?7(12?45) months. Recurrence occurred in two cases which had intracapsular resection margin. One patient died of multiple metastases postoperative. Pathol?ogy showed classic chordoma morphology. Tumor cells showed a patchy distribution or cords and scattered in mucinous abundant intersti?tial. The tumor was composed of droplets like cells containing vacuole and eosinophilic astrocytes. Conclusion The cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal chordomas are rare. The clinical symptoms are not typical and easily missed or misdiagnosed. The diagnosis should com?bine with radiological and pathological characteristic. The recurrence rate is high after intracapsular excision.