Chordoma; discussion with report of a case of cervical chordoma.

Abstract

CHORDOMAS are rare tumors found along the spinal column. They occur at both ends, namely in the sacrococcygeal area and the spheno-occipital syncondrosis. However, at times they are found in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar areas. This is a report of a case of cervical chordoma advancing anteriorly into the pharynx. Chordomas are tumors which arise from remnants of the notochord, the primitive vertebral column. These remnants are present in the body as the soft central core of the intervertebral disks, the nuclei pulposi. They are usually found in older age groups, and the average age is 60 years. They are benign tumors as a rule, yet about 11% are known to metastasize to regional or distant lymph nodes. They are slowgrowing tumors and produce their symptoms by infiltrating and destroying the tissues in their paths. The tumors are encapsulated and highly vascular, which gives them their purple-reddish color. The