Chordoma of the spinal cord in a F344 rat

A chordoma arose in the lumbar region of the vertebral column from the last two vertebrae of a 112 week old female control F344 rat. Macroscopically it was a mass measuring 32 by 22 mm reaching the pelvic region and pressing against the colon and urinary bladder. Histologically the tumor cells were arranged into lobules and the cells grew in cords. Vacuolated large cells infiltrated the bone and surrounding muscles. This is the first reported case of chordoma in a rodent.