Objectives: This study evaluates the impact combined endonasal endoscopic resection and radiotherapy for skull base chordomas.
Methods: Thirty-two patients with skull base chordomas between July 2006 and June 2015 were divided into 2 groups: the surgery alone group and the surgery with radiation therapy group.
Results: Gross total resection was achieved in 9 (28.1%) patients with skull base chordoma, subtotal resection was achieved in 16 (50.0%) patients, and partial resection was achieved in 7 (21.9%) patients. The progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 3 and 5 years was 44.0% and 16.5%, respectively. The overall survival (OS) rate at 3 and 5 years was 79.4% and 69.5%, respectively. Kadish staging predicted PFS and OS with statistical significance when the extent of resection was categorized into gross total resection, subtotal resection, and partial resection (P = 0.035 and P = 0.003, respectively). There was a significant OS advantage for the surgery plus radiation group compared with the surgery alone group (P = 0.035).
Conclusion: Gross total resection can achieve very good results for the treatment of skull base chordomas. Postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy is recommended for all skull base chordomas, as it offered a higher OS rate.