J H J M Bessems | PubMed Health

PubMed2006

Extra-axial chordoma.

A chordoma which occurs as a primary tumour outside the axial skeleton is known as an extra-axial chordoma, parachordoma or chordoma periphericum. It is extremely rare and therefore survival, recurrence and the rates of metastasis are not known. Whilst few recurrences have been described, the extra-axial chordoma has the potential for late recurrence at up to 12 years. Metastases are even less frequent. We report the case of a 56-year-old woman who developed an extra-axial chordoma of the right thoracic wall in close relationship with the tenth rib. The tumour was completely removed and the prognosis is excellent.

Chordoma↗

PubMed2002

[Too young for a twisted painful back].

One girl aged 13 years and 2 boys aged 18 and 14 years had a painful scoliosis. Plain radiographs, blood tests and MRI revealed no abnormalities. Bone scintigraphy and CT scans were needed to establish the diagnosis 'osteoid osteoma'. In the girl, the initial CT scan was also negative and the tumours could only be found after using thin slices. She had had the complaints for 6 months and both boys had had the complaints for more than a year, before the diagnosis was made. They all made a complete recovery after surgical resection. A chronic painful back in young patients is often caused by structural deformities. The differential diagnosis also includes an osteoid osteoma. If an osteoid osteoma is suspected, then after radiographs, bone scintigraphy is indicated, which if necessary can be followed up with targeted CT scans.

Adolescent↗