Giant clival chordoma causing pathological laughter.
BACKGROUND
Chordomas are rare slowly growing tumors that originate from remnants of the notochord. They have a malignant local behavior, causing symptoms due to bone infiltration and compression of neurovascular structures. Only a few cases of brain tumors associated with pathological laughter have been reported in the literature.


METHODS
We report a case of a 42-year-old male patient with this atypical clinical presentation treated at our institution, and discuss the concerning literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Although being a very rare presentation of chordomas, pathological laughter is usually expected to improve after brain stem decompression.
Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Cancer, INCA, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Daniel Andrade
DA
Gripp
Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Cancer, INCA, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Antonio Aversa
AA
do Souto
Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Cancer, INCA, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Douglas
D
Gonsales
Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Cancer, INCA, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Marcio de Miranda Chaves
Mde M
Christiani
Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Cancer, INCA, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Janio
J
Nogueira
Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Cancer, INCA, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Helio Ferreira
HF
Lopes
Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Cancer, INCA, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Yasmine Coura
YC
Torres
Chordoma; clivus; pathological laughter