Thoracic intramedullary chordoma without bone involvement: a rare clinical entity

BMJ Case Rep. 2016 Jul 28:2016:bcr2016216101. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2016-216101.

Abstract

An 8-year-old boy presented with a 1-year history of low backache, followed by paraparesis and urinary incontinence. MRI of the thoracic spine revealed an intramedullary, intensely contrast-enhancing lesion extending from T11 to L1 vertebral level, consistent with astrocytoma, ependymoma or haemangioblastoma. A diagnosis of intramedullary chordoma was made on tissue biopsy and immunohistochemical study. This is the second report of an intramedullary chordoma without bone involvement in English literature. After 6 months of follow-up, patient showed good clinical outcome in terms of improvement in power in lower limbs and backache.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Chordoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Chordoma / pathology
  • Chordoma / surgery
  • Contrast Media
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement
  • Laminectomy
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Spinal Cord / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Spinal Cord / surgery
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / pathology
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging

Substances

  • Contrast Media