{"id":225,"date":"2020-07-27T12:23:48","date_gmt":"2020-07-27T12:23:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/blog\/orl\/en\/?p=225"},"modified":"2020-07-30T15:14:38","modified_gmt":"2020-07-30T15:14:38","slug":"skull-base-chordomas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/blog\/orl\/en\/skull-base-chordomas\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Skull Base Chordomas and what is its treatment?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chordoma<\/strong> is a rare type of tumor that occurs in the bones of the\u00a0skull base<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and spine<\/strong>. These tumors arise from the remnants of the notochord, a flexible, rod-like structure that provides support to the developing embryo.\u00a0 Chordomas are complex tumors to treat due to the involvement of critical structures such as the\u00a0brainstem, spinal cord, and important nerves and arteries. About 30 percent of all chordomas are form within the center of the head in an area called the skull base<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 usually in a bone called the\u00a0clivus. Skull base chordomas<\/strong> are sometimes considered brain tumors<\/strong><\/a> because they can grow toward the brain.<\/p>\n

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\u00b7 What are skull base tumors?<\/a><\/h4>\n

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Chordoma Prevalence<\/h2>\n

One in one million people per year is diagnosed of a chordoma<\/strong>. In gross numbers, 300 patients are diagnosed with chordoma each year in the United States, and about 700 in all of Europe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Most of the patients are diagnosed in their 50s and 60s, but it can occur at any age. Skull base chordomas<\/strong> occur more frequently in younger patients, while spinal chordomas<\/strong> are more common later in life. Chordoma affects almost the double of men than women<\/strong>. While chordoma<\/strong> can run in families, this is very rare.<\/p>\n

Probable causes of Skull Base Chordomas<\/h2>\n

Chordoma tumors<\/strong> develop from cells of a tissue called the notochord<\/em><\/a><\/strong>. The notochord<\/strong> dissolves when the fetus is about 8 weeks old, but some notochord cells remain in the bones of the spine and skull base<\/strong><\/a>. Very rarely, these cells start replicating forming the so called chordoma<\/strong>. What causes notochord<\/strong> cells to become cancerous in some people is not fully known, but researchers are working to found the answers.<\/p>\n

Chordoma Classification<\/h2>\n

Chordomas<\/strong> al classified based on how they look under de microscope:<\/p>\n