title: Imaging of chordomas of the mobile spine.
abstract: In this retrospective study twelve histologically confirmed cases of spinal chordoma have been reviewed. Plain radiographs were performed in all cases, and CT scans in 11 patients. Four patients had post-myelography CT. Five patients were explored by MRI, and two had a post-DOTA-gadolinium MR study. Ten patients underwent spinal arteriography. Cervical spine chordomas (3 cases) were osteolytic, developed laterally to the vertebral body and involved one of more adjacent vertebrae. Thoracic and lumbar chordomas (9 cases) were usually centrally located in the vertebral body with no adjacent involvement and presented as osteo-sclerotic or mixed osteolytic-osteosclerotic lesions. CT scans provide a good view of the extravertebral component of the tumour, but MRI is the best imaging method to evaluate tumoral extension. Intravenous gadolinium injection seems to produce a better delineation of the epidural extent of the tumour at cervical level. Angiography remains useful for presurgical evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neuroradiologie, l'hôpital Henri Mondor à Créteil.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ducou le Pointe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brugieres
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Meder
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Voisin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002614:Chelating Agents; D002817:Chordoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C050823:gadolinium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetate; D005682:Gadolinium