Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chondroid Chordoma: A Low-Grade Chondrosarcoma and Its Differential Diagnosis

  • Chapter
Biological Characterization of Bone Tumors

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Pathology ((CT PATHOLOGY,volume 80))

Abstract

Controversy has surrounded chondroid chordoma ever since it was first described as a distinct clinical and pathological entity (Heffelfinger et al. 1973). For, although lesions called chondroid chordoma clearly behave in a far more benign fashion than typical chordoma, the histogenesis of chondroid chordoma has been uncertain. Furthermore, the pathological features distinguishing it from related tumors have been blurred by its supposed bimorphic histology resembling both chordoma and chondrosarcoma. In this chapter, we will review the entities confused with chondroid chordoma from the clinicopathological and histogenetic viewpoints. We will also detail our own immunohistochemical analysis which indicated chondroid chordoma to be a form of low-grade chondrosarcoma.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abenoza P, Sibley RK (1987) Chordoma: an immunohistochemical study. Hum Pathol 17: 744–747

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abenoza P, Sibley RK, Rosai J (1985) Immunocytochemistry in the differential diagnosis of chordoma and chondrosarcoma. Lab Invest 52: 1

    Google Scholar 

  • Alho A, Connor JF, Mankin HJ, Schiller AL, Campbell CJ (1983) Assessment of malignancy of cartilage tumors using flow cytometry. J Bone Joint Surg 65: 779–785

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Angervall L, Enerback L, Knutson H (1973) Chondrosarcoma of soft tissue origin. Cancer 32: 507–513

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ariel IM, Verdu C (1955) Chordoma: an analysis of twenty cases treated over a twenty year span. J Surg Oncol 7: 27–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonneville J-F, Belloir A, Mawazini H, Manzoni J-M, Runge M, Monnier G, Dietemann J-L (1980) Calcified remnants of the notochord in the roof of the nasopharynx. Radiology 137: 373–377

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Botties K, Beckstead JH (1984) Enzyme histochemical characterization of chordomas. Am J Surg Pathol 8: 443–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks JJ, LiVolsi VA, Trojanowski JQ (1987) Does chondroid chordoma exist? Acta Neuropathol 72: 229–235

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buckwalter JA (1983) The structure of human chondrosarcoma proteoglycans. J Bone Joint Surg 65: 958–974

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burger PC, Vogel FA (1982) Surgical pathology of the nervous system and its coverings, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers PW, Schwinn CP (1979) Chordoma. A clinicopathologic study of metastasis. Am J Clin Pathol 72: 765–776

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coltrera MD, Googe PB, Harrist TJ, Hyams VJ, Schiller AL, Goodman ML (1986) Chondrosarcoma of the temporal bone. Cancer 58: 2689–2696

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dahlin DC (1967) Bone tumors: general aspects and data on 3, 987 cases. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahlin DC, MacCarty CS (1952) Chordoma: a study of fifty-nine cases. Cancer 5: 1170–1178

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dardick I, Legace R, Carlier MT, Jung RC (1983) Chordoid sarcoma (extra-skeletal myxoid chondroarcoma). Virchows Arch 399: 61–78

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans HL, Ayala AG, Romstahl MM (1977) Prognostic factors in chondrosarcoma of bone. Cancer 40: 818–831

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faraggiana T, Sender B, Glicksman P (1981) Light and electron microscopic study of clear cell chondrosarcoma. Am J Clin Pathol 75: 117–121

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faust DB, Gilmore HR, Mudgett CS (1944) Chordomata: a review of literature with a report of a sacrococcygeal case. Ann Intern Med 21: 678–698

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu YS, Perzin KH (1974) Non-epithelial tumors of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx. A clinico-pathologic study. III. Cartilaginous tumors, chondroma, chondrosarcoma. Cancer 34: 453–463

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner WJ, Turner O (1941) Cranial chordomas, a clinical and pathologic study. Arch Surg 42: 411–425

    Google Scholar 

  • Harwick RD, Miller AS (1979) Craniocervical chordomas. Am J Surg 138: 512–516

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hasegawa M, Nishijima W, Watanabe I, Nasu M, Kamiyama R (1985) Primary chondroid chordoma arising from the base of the temporal bone. A 10-year post-operative follow-up. J Laryngol Otol 99: 485–489

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heaton JM, Turner DR (1985) Reflections on notochordal differentiation arising from a study of chordomas. Histopathology 9: 543–550

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heffelfinger MJ, Dahlin DC, MacCarty CS, Beabout JW (1973) Chordomas and cartilaginous tumors at the skull base. Cancer 32: 410–420

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horwitz T (1941) Chordal ectopia and its possible relation to chordoma. Arch Pathol 31: 354–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsu S-M, Raine L, Fanger H (1981) Use of avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) in immunoperoxidase techniques: a comparison between ABC and unlabeled antibody ( PAP) procedures. J Histochem Cytochem 29: 577–580

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huvos AG (1979) Bone tumors: diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 373–391

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe HL (1968) Tumors and tumorous conditions of the bones and joints. Lea and Febiger, Philadelpia, pp 451–462

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay S, Schatzki PF (1972) Ultrastructural observations of a chordoma arising in the clivus. Hum Pathol 3: 403–413

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LeCharpentier Y, Forest M, Postel M, Tomeno B, Abelanet R (1979) Clear cell chondrosarcoma: a report of five cases including ultrastructural study. Cancer 44: 622–629

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lim GHK (1975) Clivus chordoma with unusual bone sclerosis and brainstem invasion. A case report with review of the radiology of cranial chordomas. Aust Radiol 19: 242–250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marcove RC, Mike V, Hutter RYP, Huvos AG, Shoji H, Miller TR, Kosloff R (1972) Chondrosarcoma of the pelvis and Upper end of the femur. J Bone Joint Surg 54: 561–572

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez-Tello FJ, Navas-Palacios JJ (1982) Ultrastructural study of conventional chondrosarcomas and myxoid- and mesenchymal-chondrosarcomas. Virchows Arch 396: 197–211

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meis J, Raymond A, Evans H, Charles R, Giraldo A (1987) Dedifferentiated chordoma: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of three cases. Am J Surg Pathol 11: 516–525

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miettinen M (1984) Chordoma. Antibodies to epithelial membrane antigen and carcino-embryonic antigen in differential diagnosis. Arch Pathol Lab Med 108: 891–892

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miettinen M, Lehto E-P, Dahl D, Virtanen I (1983) Differential diagnosis of chordoma, chondroid, and ependymal tumors as aided by anti-intermediate filament antibodies. Am J Pathol 112: 160–169

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miettinen M, Lehto V-P, Virtanen I (1984) Malignant fibrous histiocytoma within a recurrent chordoma. A light microscopic, electron microscopic, and immunohistochemical study. Am J Clin Pathol 82: 738–743

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miettinen M, Karaharju E, Jarvinen H (1987) Chordoma with massive spindle cell transformation: a light- and electron-microscopic, and immunohistochemical study. Am J Surg Pathol 11: 563–570

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muller H (1958) Über das Vorkommen von Resten der Chorda Dorsalis bei Menschen nach der Geburt und über die Verhältnisse zu den Gallertgeschwulsten am Clivus. Z Rationelle Med 2: 202–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura Y, Becker LE, Marks A (1983) S-100 protein in human chordoma and human rabbit notochord. Arch Pathol Lab Med 107: 118–120

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pardo-Mindan FJ, Guillen FJ, Villas C, Vazquez JJ (1981) A comparative ultrastructural study of chondrosarcoma, chordoid sarcoma, and chordoma. Cancer 47: 2611–2619

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pena CE, Horvat BL, Risher ER (1970) The ultrastructure of chordoma. Am J Clin Pathol 53: 544–551

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perzin KH, Pushparaj N (1986) Nonepithelial tumors of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and nasopharynx. A clinicopathologic study. XIV. Chordomas. Cancer 57: 784–796

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard DJ, Lunke RJ, Taylor WF, Dahlin DC, Medley BE (1980) Chondrosarcoma: a clinical pathologic and Statistical analysis. Cancer 45: 149–157

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rich TA, Schiller A, Suit H, Mankin HK (1985) Clinical and pathologic review of 48 cases of chordoma. Cancer 56: 182–187

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richter HJ, Batsakis JG, Boles R (1975) Chordomas: nasopharyngeal presentation and atypical long survival. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 84: 1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson DI, Hogg GR (1980) Chordoid sarcoma. Ultrastructural evidence supporting a synovial origin. Cancer 45: 520–527

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rutherfoord G, Davies A (1987) Chordomas — ultrastructure and immunohistochemistry: a report based on the examination of six cases. Histopathology 11: 775–787

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salisbury JR (1987) Demonstration of cytokeratins and epithelial membrane antigen in chondroid chordoma. J Pathol 153: 37–40

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salisbury JR, Isaacson PG (1985) Demonstration of cytokeratins and an epithelial membrane antigen in chordomas and human fetal notochord. Am J Surg Pathol 9: 791–797

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanerkin NG, Gallagher P (1979) A review of the behavior of chondrosarcoma of bone. J Bone Joint Surg 61: 395–400

    Google Scholar 

  • Sassin JF, Chutorian Am (1967) Intracranial chordoma in children. Arch Neurol 17: 89–93

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sensenig EG (1956) Adhesions of notochord and neural tube in the formation of chordomas. Am J Anat 98: 357–370

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sibley R (1985) Metastatic chordoma to lung (case presentation). Surgical Pathology Specialty Conference, International Academy of Pathology, Toronto, March 12

    Google Scholar 

  • Spjut HJ, Luse SA (1964) Chordoma: an electron microscopic study. Cancer 17: 643–656

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spoden JE, Bumsted BM, Warner ED (1980) Chondroid chordoma. Case report and literature review. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 89: 279–285

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart MJ, Morin JE (1926) Chordoma: A review with a report of a new sacrococcygeal case. J Pathol Bacteriol 29: 41–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stough DR, Hartzog JT, Fisher RG (1971) Unusual intracranial spinal metastasis of a cranial chordoma. Case report. J Neurosurg 34: 560–562

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suit HD, Goitein M, Munzenrider J et al. (1982) Definitive radiation therapy for chordoma and chondrosarcoma of base of skull and cervical spine. J Neurosurg 56: 377–385

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sundaresan N, Galicich JH, Chu FCH, Huvos AG (1979) Spinal chordomas. J Neurosurg 50: 312–319

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tremblay FG, Lee VM-Y, Trojanowski JQ (1985) Expression of vimentin, glial filament, and neurofilament proteins in primitive childhood brain tumors. A comparative immunoblot and immunoperoxidase study. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 68: 239–244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valderrama E, Lipper S, Kahn LB, Mare J (1983) Chondroid chordoma. Electron-microscopic study of two cases. Am J Surg Pathol 7: 625–632

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Virchow R (1857) Untersuchungen über die Entwicklung des Schädelgrundes im gesunden und krankhaften Zustande und über den Einfluss derselben auf Schädelform, Gesichtsbildung und Gehirn. George Reimer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Volpe R, Mazabraud A (1983) A clinopathologic review of 25 cases of chordoma (a pleomorphic and metastasizing neoplasm). Am J Surg Pathol 7: 161–170

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss SW (1976) Ultrastructure of the so-called “chordoid sarcoma”. Evidence supporting cartilaginous differentiation. Cancer 37: 300–306

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel WJ, Reuhl KR (1980) Microtubular aggregates in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of a myxoid chondrosarcoma. Ultrastruct Pathol 1: 519–525

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wold LE, Laws ER (1984) Chordomas in children and yong adults. Lab Invest 50: 60

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. J. J. Brooks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Q. Trojanowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. A. LiVolsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Gerhard-Domagk-Institut für Pathologie der Universität, Domagkstraße 17, D-4400, Münster, Germany

    A. Roessner (Prof. Dr.) (Prof. Dr.)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Brooks, J.J., Trojanowski, J.Q., LiVolsi, V.A. (1989). Chondroid Chordoma: A Low-Grade Chondrosarcoma and Its Differential Diagnosis. In: Roessner, A. (eds) Biological Characterization of Bone Tumors. Current Topics in Pathology, vol 80. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74462-4_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74462-4_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-74464-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-74462-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation