[Cervical paraspinal chordoma, a condition we should know. A case report]

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Chordoma is a rare, slow-growing bone tumor originating from notochordal remnants.
• Typically found at the skull base or sacrococcygeal region, cervical chordomas are exceptionally rare, accounting for only 6% of cases.
• This case involves a para-spinal chordoma at the C2-C4 vertebral level, a location with fewer than 10 reported instances.

Observation:

• A young male presented with a left para-spinal tumor at the C2-C4 level.
• Radiographic imaging indicated a slow-growing, cystic tumor with bone erosion and encasement of the left vertebral artery.
• Surgical excision was performed for the observed tumor.

Findings:

• Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed significant cell proliferation.
• The tumor exhibited a myxoid-chondroid stroma with epithelioid and physaliphorous (PAS+) cells.
• These cellular features are consistent with a diagnosis of chordoma.

Implications:

• This case expands the understanding of rare chordoma presentations in the cervical spine.
• Highlights the importance of considering chordoma in the differential diagnosis of spinal tumors, even in unusual locations.
• Further research into the management and treatment of rare chordoma variants is warranted.