Brain Tumours

Chordoma Chondrosarcoma

CHORDOMA - Pathology Macroscopically: Chordomas are soft, gelatinous, lobulated neoplasms Microscopically: Vacuolated, bubble-containing cytoplasm: physaliphorous cells Express S-100, EMA and cytokeratin Notochordal developmental transcription factor, BRACHYURY (when combined with cytokeratin staining, sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 100% for chordoma) Chondroid Chordoma: Favorable prognosis (UNRESOLVED ISSUE) About 20% were later found to be chondrosarcomas Mayo clinicopath study revealed no difference in survival (attributed to occurrence in younger pts)

03/01/13