J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1999 Nov;17(6):908-911.

A Case of Chordoma Arising from Clivus

• Yim JS
• Lee YB
• Lee KY
• Park WG
• Lee YJ
• Kim HT
• Kim SH
• Kim JH
• Kim MH

Abstract

Chordoma is a rare tumor derived from notochord remnants, but can occur at any level of the craniovertebral axis, pri-marily in the sacrum, clivus, and cervical regions. Therefore, chordoma should be considered as a rare cause in the dif-ferential diagnosis of mass lesions around the cervicomedullary junction. A 62-year-old man suffered from a suboccipi-tal, nuchal pain and headache for 15 years and nasal obstruction, recently. In a neurological examination, dysarthria, uvula and tongue deviation, depressed soft palate, decreased gag reflex, and atrophic SCM were noted. The MRI find-ings included an isosignal, round, well- marginated, and nearly homogeneous tumor compressing the lower brainstem. A biopsy was done by the transoral approach with a permanent diagnosis of chordoma arising from the clivus. We report a rare case of chordoma arising from the inferior margin of the clivus in a patient with multiple lower cranial nerve palsies.

Keyword

Chordoma; Clivus; Cervicomedullary junction mass

MeSH Terms

Axis, Cervical Vertebra
Biopsy
Brain Stem
Chordoma*
Cranial Fossa, Posterior*
Cranial Nerve Diseases
Diagnosis
Dysarthria
Headache
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Middle Aged
Nasal Obstruction
Neurologic Examination
Notochord
Palate, Soft
Reflex
Sacrum
Tongue
Uvula