Endoscopic management of a lower clival chondroid chordoma: case report

We report herein a case of lower clival chondroid chordoma, focusing on the surgical procedure of endoscopic endonasal surgery. A 36-year-old woman presented with progressive headache, right shoulder pain, and right hypoglossal nerve palsy. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed an extradural tumor located in the lower clivus, including the anterior aspect of the foramen magnum, deeply compressing the medulla and upper cervical spinal cord. Endoscopic endonasal surgery was performed via two nostrils. Since the basiocciput was destroyed by the tumor, removal of the tumor allowed identification of the middle clivus superiorly, the anterior arch of the atlas inferiorly, and anteromedial parts of occipital condyles bilaterally without drilling the basiocciput. The tumor was removed except for laterally and inferiorly extended lesions. Pathological diagnosis was chondroid chordoma. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged without further neurological deterioration. Endonasal endoscopic surgery provided safe and reliable tumor resection for a lower clival lesion. We believe that this minimally invasive procedure should be considered as an alternative to traditional surgical treatment.