[Clinical analysis of 24 cases of chordomas in the skull base]

Chordoma is a rare neoplasm which arises from the embryonic remnant of the notochord. The paper reported 24 cases of chordomas in the skull base. According to symptoms, signs, imaging features, operation findings, the original places and the expansive directions of the tumor, they were divided into four clinical types: sellar, clival, occipito-temporal and extent. The choices of surgical approaches were suggested on these types. They are difficult to remove because of their deep site, limit operative field and close to the important vessels, nerves and brain, and they recur frequently after operation.