Chordoma overview
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Chordoma Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Chordoma overview On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Chordoma overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Chordoma is a rare slow-growing malignant neoplasm thought to arise from cellular remnants of the notochord. The evidence for this is the location of the tumors (along the neuraxis), the similar immunohistochemical staining patterns, and the demonstration that notochordal cells are preferentially left behind in the clivus and sacrococcygeal regions when the remainder of the notochord regresses during fetal life.
Chordomas can arise anywhere along the neuraxis. The two most common locations are cranially at the clivus and at the sacrum.