[A rare case of chondroid chordoma of the cervical spine]

Chordoma is a rare tumor in spine. Authors report the case of a 49 years old woman suffering from C5 left neuralgia. Plain films showed an enlargement of C4-C5 left foramina. CT scan permitted to see a lobulated tumor with low density just a few enhancement into septa. MRI showed the tumor with low signal on T1wi, high signal on T2wi and slight enhancement after Gadolinium administration. The extension in the vertebral body is very limited. Differential diagnosis are chondroma or chondrosarcoma and epidermoid cyst. Histology with evidence of a chondroid matrix explain the CT and MR appearance. In this localisation, there is no case reported in the litterature. This is an outstanding case because its extra-osseous localization with a lack of contrast enhancement after injection and its unusual histologic pattern.