Sacral chordoma. A rare cause of chronic pelvic and low-back pain

A case of sacral chordoma causing chronic, persistant low-back pain for 5 years is reported. This tumor was palpable on pelvic and rectal examination in the presacral area. Early excision is the treatment of choice for this slow growing tumor of primitive notochordal origin. Diagnosis is often late and incomplete surgical excision leads to local recurrence and eventual death. Knowledge of the existence of this rare condition, together with careful pelvic and rectal examination, are the importnat keys to diagnosis and possible curative treatment.