title: Chordoma masquerading as a nerve root tumour -- a clinical lesson.
abstract: Chordomas usually arise in bone and are most commonly found in the midline axial skeleton. An accurate pre-operative diagnosis of chordoma is crucial, as survival is optimal when radical en bloc resection is performed at primary surgery. We report a rare case of cervical chordoma masquerading radiologically as an extracranial nerve sheath tumour. A laterally situated chordoma (centred extra-osseously in the neural foramen) was diagnosed radiologically as a neurofibroma pre-operatively. We review the key radiological features for diagnosis of chordoma. We consider the importance of pre-operative diagnosis of chordoma in guiding management and in determining survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK. paulmbrennan@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ironside
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002817:Chordoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*