Chordoma: role of radiation therapy

The treatment of 21 patients with a diagnosis of chordoma seen over a 20-year period is described. The 13 men and eight women (ratio 1.6:1) ranged in age from 7 to 82 years (average, 50 years). Eleven chordomas arose from the clivus; the others originated in the sacral region (three patients), thoracic spine (one), cervical spine (three), and lumbar spine (three). Primary treatment consisted of surgery, reserving radiation therapy for recurrence in the majority of patients. Radiation doses, delivered with megavoltage equipment, ranged between 5,000 cGy delivered over 5 weeks and 6,600 cGy over 6 1/2 weeks. Irradiation produced significant tumor control, with remission of symptoms from 1 to 6 years. The combination of high-dose radiation therapy and complete or subtotal surgical resection offers the best chance for prolonged survival in this group of patients.