title: Chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the skull base: results and complications of surgical management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chordomas and chondrosarcomas are rare and difficult to treat tumors for which the optimum treatment modality remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgery-related results and complications in a series of patients in whom radical resection was the treatment of choice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of the surgery-related results and complications associated with chordoma and chondrosarcoma in 64 patients of whom 33 (52%) had previously undergone some form of treatment. Total or near-total excision was achieved in 56% and this rate increased to 68% in patients without prior treatment. The main complications were postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage, intraoperative arterial injury, and new-onset cranial nerve deficits. Arterial injury occurred only and perioperative death occurred more often in patients who had undergone previous treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analysis of the results provides support for a policy of radical excision of chordomas and chondrosarcomas at the time of first presentation. A higher incidence of procedure-related complications is found in patients who have already undergone surgery and radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Sekhar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pranatartiharan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chanda
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000601:surgery*; D002817:Chordoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013353:Subdural Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome