Cervical chordoma with retropharyngeal extension presenting with impaired voice.
OBJECTIVE
We report an extremely rare case of cervical chordoma presenting with impaired voice.


METHODS
Case report and a review of the literature concerning the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a cervical chordoma.


RESULTS
A singing teacher complaining of dysphonia was examined and surgically treated for a retropharyngeal extension of a cervical chordoma. A local recurrence was treated with proton beam therapy. 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.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge this is the first report in the world literature of a retropharyngeal extension of a cervical chordoma presenting with impaired voice. This case indicates that bony tumors of the spine may present first to voice-disorder clinicians. Increased awareness of this neoplasm may lead to earlier diagnosis and better treatment.
Nicoucar
Keyvan
K
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. Keyvan.Nicoucar@hcuge.ch
Rausch
Thierry
T
Becker
Minerva
M
Dulguerov
Pavel
P
D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D002817:Chordoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*