Skull base chordomas: clinical features, prognostic factors, and therapeutics.

Neurosurg Clin N Am

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.

Published: January 2013

AI Article Synopsis

  • Chordomas of the skull base are rare cancers that develop from leftover embryonal tissue, making them unique among brain tumors.
  • Due to their location near critical nerves and blood vessels, complete surgical removal is challenging, and patients often require additional radiation therapy to prevent recurrence.
  • This review covers the various aspects of chordomas, including their cellular structure, how they are imaged, different surgical techniques, additional treatment options, and factors influencing patient outcomes.

Article Abstract

Chordomas of the skull base are one of the rarest intracranial malignancies that arise from ectopic remnants of embryonal notochod. The proximity of many chordomas to neurovascular structures makes gross total resection difficult, and the tendency for recurrence leads to the routine use of adjuvant postoperative radiation. Several surgical approaches are used ranging from extensive craniotomies to minimally invasive endonasal endoscopic approaches. In this review, the histopathology and epidemiology, imaging characteristics, surgical approaches, adjuvant therapies, prognostic factors, and molecular biology of chordomas are described.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nec.2012.08.007DOI Listing

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