The osseous and angiographic features of vertebral chordomas

Eight cases of vertebral chordoma, exclusive of the sacrococcygeus, are presented. The conventional radiographic signs in descending order of importance in differential diagnosis are: destruction of multiple adjacent vertebral bodies; a paravertebral or precervical soft tissue mass; osteosclerosis, seen mainly at the periphery of the destructive lesion; and involvement of the intervening intervertebral disc space. All eight patients had a demonstrable intraspinal extension of chordoma on myelography. Four patients had complete blocks, two epidural in configuration, and two intradural in appearance - indicative of dural invasion by the neoplasm. Four patients had angiographic evaluation. Two demonstrated angiographic features usually associated with soft tissue malignant tumors. Angiography in all four cases was helpful in determining the full extent of the lesion, more so than either conventional radiography or myelography.