Cervical chordoma involving C3/C4: A case report

Chordoma is a rare, indolent but locally invasive, osteolytic, slow growing, low grade, primary bone malignancy, derived from the embryonic remnants of the notochord. It is a midline tumour and it predominantly emerges from the axial skeleton. The most commonly observed location of a chordoma is in the sacrococcygeal region (50 to 55%) followed by the cranio occipital region (25 to 30%) We present a case of a 30 years old lady who came to us with complaints of difficulty in walking and inability to hold objects in both hands. MRI showed collapse of C3 and C4 vertebral bodies with a large mass extending into paravertebral tissues and causing spinal cord compression. A preamble diagnosis of a chordoma at level of C3-C4 spine was made, a biopsy done to confirm the diagnosis of a chordoma and surgical excision was carried out. No recurrences or metastasis were noted in a follow up at 6 month post operatively.