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Kyle A. Smith, Kelli Crabtree, Roukoz Chamoun
  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA

Correspondence Address:
Kyle A. Smith
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA

DOI:10.4103/2152-7806.173313

Copyright: © 2016 Surgical Neurology International This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.

How to cite this article: Smith KA, Crabtree K, Chamoun R. Delayed intraventricular metastasis of clival chordoma. Surg Neurol Int 05-Jan-2016;7:3

How to cite this URL: Smith KA, Crabtree K, Chamoun R. Delayed intraventricular metastasis of clival chordoma. Surg Neurol Int 05-Jan-2016;7:3. Available from: http://surgicalneurologyint.com/surgicalint_articles/delayed-intraventricular-metastasis-of-clival-chordoma/

Date of Submission
15-Sep-2015

Date of Acceptance
27-Oct-2015

Date of Web Publication
05-Jan-2016

Sir,

Intracranial chordomas are typically clival and extradural in location, yet these tumors can obviously invade the dura. However, primary intradural chordomas without local extension is a rare event with approximately 47 cases reported in literature. Furthermore, all intradural chordoma reports appear to be extraventricular in location.[ 1 2 ] In addition, through advances in technology and optics, neuroendoscopy has come to the forefront as a mainstream operative technique. Some tumors are more conducive to endoscopic biopsy or resection than others due to hemorrhagic or consistency.

We present this unique case of an intraventricular recurrence of a clival chordoma and successful use of neuroendoscopy to explore and resect the tumor. A 60-year-old male, with a history of clival chordoma resection and adjuvant radiation nearly 10 years prior, presented with an intraventricular lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) obtained for stroke workup of the left sided weakness. Physical examination showed right third nerve palsy, left facial droop, and left sided weakness. MRI demonstrated an intraventricular enhancing lesion within the right lateral ventricle [Figure 1a and b ]. No other evidence of metastasis was identified. The decision was made to endoscopically biopsy and resects the intraventricular lesion via a transcortical-transventricular approach [ Figure 1c ]. Postoperative MRI demonstrated gross total resection [ Figure 1d ]. The histopathologic diagnosis of the tumor was chordoma. No postoperative radiation was given. On 6-month follow-up imaging, the lesion has not recurred.


Figure 1

(a and b) Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates an enhancing lesion, approximately 1.5 cm × 1.0 cm, along the ependymal surface within the right lateral ventricle caudothalamic notch. (c) Intraoperative view of intraventricular lesion via endoscope prior to resection. (d) Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates gross total resection

 

This case illustrates a unique occurrence of intraventricular recurrence of clival chordoma approximately 10 years after initial resection with good result via an endoscopic technique. Prior reports have typically focused on intradural, extraventricular metastases. A solitary intraventricular chordoma neoplasm is a rare, interesting event. Furthermore, neuroendoscopy is a useful technique for tumor resection and proves viable in the resection of chordomas.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

References

1. AlOtaibi F, Guiot MC, Muanza T, Di Maio S. Giant petroclival primary intradural chordoma: Case report and systematic review of the literature. J Neurol Surg Rep. 2014. 75: e160-9

2. Ito E, Saito K, Nagatani T, Ishiyama J, Terada K, Yoshida M. Intradural cranial chordoma. World Neurosurg. 2010. 73: 194-7

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