Skull Base Chordoma: A Case Presentation and Review of Literature

Chordomas are rare, aggressive, bone cancers with notochordal differentiation, a marked predilection for the axial skeleton, and higher incidence in males. Approximately 30% of chordomas occur at the skull base where they make up 0.1-0.2% of all intracranial neoplasms, and 6-16% of skull base neoplasms. Skull base chordomas typically occur between 20 and 40 years of age. We report a case of skull base chordoma in a 35 year old man, who presented with a 10 year history of symptoms, and died before treatment could be instituted. Late presentation and delay in treatment are contributing factors in the demise of this patient. The need for a high index of suspicion, early imaging and prompt referral in patients with symptoms attributable to an intracranial tumor is emphasized.