Recurrent cervical chordoma: A case illustration

A case is described of multi-recurrent cervical chordoma in a man over a 5 year period. The clinical features were of progressive spinal cord compression. The authors report a chordoma at C4 that recurred 3 times in five years. The patient underwent four operations and suffered distant metastases. This case confirms that thorough resection of the tumor during the first surgery and post-operative adjuvant treatment are the best assurance of a good prognosis with a chordoma. Multiple surgeries can stimulate biological activity of a chordoma and make its recurrence and distant metastases much more likely. The authors discuss the diagnosis, surgical treatment and the relationship between the histopathological changes and malignancy of a spinal chordoma after four operations. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of a 4th surgery for cervical chordoma.