title: Cervical chordoma with retropharyngeal extension presenting with impaired voice.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. Keyvan.Nicoucar@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Keyvan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nicoucar
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rausch
authors.forename: Minerva
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dulguerov
mesh_terms: 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*