Cervical chordoma: report of a case and the technique of transoral removal

A case of cervical chordoma in a man of 27 years is described. The clinical features were of progressive spinal cord compression. Treatment was by transoral decompression of the second cervical vertebra and postoperative radiotherapy. The result was favourable and remained so at follow-up after 27 months. The relative merits and scope of the various approaches to the upper cervical vertebrae and the role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy are discussed.