Article
Lymph Node Metastasis of Chordoma
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Published: | September 22, 2005 |
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Outline
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Chordomas are rare neoplasms taking their origin from the remains of embryonal notochordal cells along the spinal axis. They often occur at the cranial base and are characterized by slow locally invasive tumor progression. The incidence of lymph node metastasis is rare.
We report the case of a 36 year old patient with progressive cervical tumors appearing two years after the primary diagnosis of a chordoma at the basal region of the skull area. After initial surgical resection followed by a protons/photons radiotherapy the chordoma reoccured at the cervical spine half a year ago.
The first time we saw the patient the ultrasound showed multiple pathologic cervical lymph nodes with an average size of 23 mm.The magnet resonance imaging additionally revealed necrosis within these lymph nodes.
Therefore the patient underwent bilateral neck dissection. Histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of two left and one right lymph node metastasis of the known chordoma.
In conclusion the detection of increased lymph nodes in a patient with the diagnosis of a chordoma can be a sign for a metastatic disease of the tumor even though this is rarely seen.
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