Said Hilmani
Background: Chordomas are malignant tumors arising from notochordal remnants and are typically locally aggressive tumors with a high propensity for local recurrence.
Method: We report an extremely rare case of cervical spine chordoma presenting with neurological deficit and retropharyngeal extension in order to assess the clinical presentation and treatment.
Results: We describe a case of 82-year-old man treated simultaneously by a precarotid approach for a retropharyngeal extension of cervical chordoma. He was referred to our institution with cervical pain, and weakness of the four limbs for 3 months, without dysphagia or dysphonia. The preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a lesion of C5-C6- with epidural space and retropharyngeal involvement. After total resection, the cervical spine was stabilized with an anterior reconstruction and plating, with good improvement.
Conclusion: Among primary malignant tumors of bone, chordomas account for 3-4% of all cases. Chordoma is typically a locally aggressive tumor with a high propensity for local recurrence. Its management involves surgery, radiotherapy, or both. Increased awareness of this neoplasm may lead to earlier diagnosis and better treatment.
English 
Spanish 
Russian 
German 
French 
Japanese 
Portuguese 
Hindi