Atypical Clival Chordoma in an Adolescent without Imaging Evidence of Bone Involvement
Hilwati Hashim1, Azmin Kass Rosman2, Aida Abdul Aziz3
1Imaging Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
Abstract:
Clival chordoma is a rare primary bone tumour that arises from the remnant of the notochord and typically occurs in older adults. Upon imaging, the tumour can be seen arising from the clivus and causes clival destruction. This usually provides insight for a diagnosis. Here we present a case of a non-enhancing, pre-pontine mass that was hypointense on T1W and hyperintense on T2W in an adolescent. No clival bone erosion was observed. Based on the age group, imaging findings, and lack of clival erosion, a provisional diagnosis of epidermoid cyst was made and the tumour was resected. This patient was eventually diagnosed with a clival chordoma based on histopathological examination.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
01:24Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification
01:27Growth of Cartilage and Bone Tissue
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:27Compact Bone
Compact bone, also called cortical bone, is the denser, stronger of the two types of bone tissue. It is found under the periosteum and in the diaphyses of long bones, where it provides support and protection. The microscopic structural unit of compact bone is called an osteon, or haversian system. Each osteon is composed of concentric rings of calcified...
01:17Gross Anatomy of Bone
The diaphysis is the tubular shaft that runs between the proximal and distal ends of the bone. The walls of the diaphysis are composed of dense and hard compact bone made of numerous osteons — the functional unit of the compact bone. The hollow region in the diaphysis is called the medullary cavity, which harbors the bone marrow. In infants and children, this marrow cavity is filled with red marrow, whereas in...