Chordoma

Chordomas develop from cells that are “left behind” as the spinal cord develops. They can occur at any place along the spinal cord — chordomas in the brain are called brain tumors, although they are not derived from brain tissue. Fewer than 1% of all primary brain tumors are chordomas.

 

Symptoms often are nonspecific and may include:

 

• Double vision
• Headache
• Hearing changes
• Neck pain

Doctors use imaging such as a CT scan and/or MRI to diagnose this type of cancer. These are also used to help develop a treatment plan. A needle biopsy will confirm a diagnosis.  


Chordomas are usually small and grow slowly, but some are aggressive and large. Early detection is key — if left untreated, the cancer can spread to other areas of the body.

Surgery is the most effective method for treating a chordoma. Removing a chordoma requires expertise to avoid damaging healthy brain and spinal cord tissue. With image-guided surgery, advanced technologies allow our neurosurgeons to treat a chordoma and other types of brain tumors with more safety and precision than ever before.  


Radiation may be used before, after or instead of surgery if the tumor is in a tiny, complicated spot. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is the use of radiation therapy to manipulate and focus the beam to the precise shape of the tumor to minimize the amount of radiation passing through healthy brain tissue. 


In addition to surgery and radiation, you might be eligible for a clinical trial for advanced treatment, such as molecular sequencing — genetic analysis of the tumor — or targeted medication.