Costanzo R, Scalia G, Marrone S, Umana GE, Graziano F, Furnari M, Ponzo G, Giuffrida M, Iacopino DG, Nicoletti GF. Thoracic dumbbell spinal chordoma mimicking a schwannoma.
Surg Neurol Int 2021;
12:497. [PMID:
34754547 PMCID:
PMC8571308 DOI:
10.25259/sni_838_2021]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:
Epidural dumbbell-shaped chordomas are localized slow growing, and malignant/aggressive neoplasms. Here, we present a 62-year-old male with a T3-T4 dumbbell-shaped chordoma and reviewed the appropriate literature.
Case Description:
A 62-year-old male presented with a three-month history of thoracic pain. When the thoracolumbar magnetic resonance (MR) showed a T3-T4 dumbbell-shaped intracanalicular/extradural tumor, he underwent tumor removal. After the histological examination proved the lesion was a spinal chordoma, he underwent a secondary radical transthoracic tumor resection. Postoperatively, the patient was able to walk without assistance, and at 6-month follow-up, was neurologically intact with only residual paresthesias.
Conclusion:
Malignant spinal chordomas may mimic benign neurinomas on MR scans. Here, biopsy of the lesion to confirm the diagnosis of chordoma was critical and directed subsequent definitive transthoracic tumor resection.
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