J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1974 Oct;3(2):215-218.

Chordoma in the Thoracic Spine: Case Report

• Kay JS
• Choi HI
• Lee KC
• Chu JW

Abstract

Chordomas are congenital tumor which develop from remnant of the notochord. Most of them arise at the clivus Blumenbachii, at the junction of the sphenoidal and occipital bones or sacrococcygeal region. Rarely chordomas arise at the thoracic spine, which compress the spinal cord epidurally and sometimes invade the substance of the spinal cord. The authors report a case of chordoma at T9-T10 vertebral level in which the characteristic "physaliferous" cells were found in the slides of operative specimen. The tumor was compressing the spinal cord and extending into body and lamine of the vertebra, which resulted the patient, 52 year-old Korean male, in paraplegia.

MeSH Terms

Chordoma*
Cranial Fossa, Posterior
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Notochord
Occipital Bone
Paraplegia
Sacrococcygeal Region
Spinal Cord
Spine*