title: Management issues in chordoma: a case series.
abstract: This study presents a combined case series of chordomas from two Canadian institutes. Twenty-seven patients were identified for the period 1954-1998. Management issues with regard to diagnostic pitfalls, selection of charged particle treatment and retreatment of recurrences are discussed. The diagnosis of early stage chordoma requires a high index of suspicion. One patient in the series presented with hoarseness and is described in detail. The diagnosis was made coincidentally by a computed tomographic scan of the head, performed after a motor vehicle accident. The planning of both surgery and radiotherapy was optimized by using magnetic resonance imaging. A review of the literature supports the use of a combined surgical and radiotherapeutic approach.
authors.affiliation: Allan Blair Cancer Centre, Regina, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Craighead
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Liem
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stitt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tonita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002817:Chordoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed