Carcinomatous features of cervical chordoma in a fine needle aspirate

A cartilaginous tumor of the cervical spine in a 31-year-old man is described, with discussion of the differential diagnostic problems both in aspiration biopsy cytology and in histopathology. The tumor mass caused nasopharyngeal swelling and infiltrated the base of the skull and the spinal canal. Aspiration biopsy cytology of the tumor demonstrated mostly papillary epithelial groupings, causing differential diagnostic problems with thyroid and salivary gland carcinomas. Most of the tumor mass was resected, with postoperative radiation performed. Immunohistochemical staining for type II procollagen on the histologic sections confirmed the presence of cartilage. The epithelial components of the tumor appeared to be cytokeratin-positive. Immunohistochemical staining for laminin and type IV collagen revealed positivity only in the blood vessel walls. The diagnosis of cervical chordoma was established by the histologic examination. The patient is without symptoms two years after removal of the tumor.