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Chordoma

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Chordomais not the name you expected.

Synonyms

Clival Chordoma
Familial Chordoma
Intracranial Chordoma
Sacrococcygeal Chordoma
Skull Base Chordoma
Spinal Chordoma

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

Chordomas are very rare primary bone tumors that can arise at almost any point along the axis of the spine from the base of the skull to the sacrum and coccyx (tailbone). The incidence of chordoma in the general U.S. population is about 8 per 10,000,000 people. They occur somewhat more often in males than females and, for unknown reasons, are rare in African Americans. Under the microscope, chordoma cells appear to be benign, but because of their location, invasive nature, and recurrence rate, the tumors are considered to be malignant. They arise from cellular remnants of the primitive notochord, which is present in the early embryo. In normal mammalian development, the notochord and substances produced by it are involved in forming the tissues that give rise to vertebrae. Normally, the tissues derived from the notochord disappear after the vertebral bodies have begun forming. However, in a small percentage of people, some tissues from the notochord do not disappear. Rarely, these leftover tissues give rise to chordomas.

About one-third of chordomas are found in the region around the clivus. The clivus is a bone in the base of the skull. It is located in front of the brainstem and behind the back of the throat (nasopharynx). Chordomas occur with equal frequency in the skull base, the vertebrae and the sacrococcygeal area towards the bottom of the spine.

Symptoms of the presence of chordomas vary with their location and size. Most chordomas occur randomly among the population (sporadic). However, some people develop this tumor as a result of a mutation inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.

Resources

American Brain Tumor Association
2720 River Road
Suite 146
Des Plaines
IL
60018
USA
Tel: (847)827-9910
Fax: (847)827-9918
800: (800)886-2282
info@abta.org
http://www.abta.org

National Brain Tumor Foundation
22 Battery Street
Suite 612
San Francisco
CA
94111-5520
USA
Tel: (415)834-9970
Fax: (415)834-9980
800: (800)934-2873
nbtf@braintumor.org
http://www.braintumor.org

Brain Tumor Society
124 Watertown Street
Suite 3H
Watertown
MA
02472-2500
Tel: (617)924-9997
Fax: (617)924-9998
800: (800)770-8287
info@tbts.org
http://www.tbts.org

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
P.O. Box 498
Kensington
MD
20895-0498
Tel: (301)962-3520
Fax: (301)962-3521
800: (800)366-2223
staff@candlelighters,org
http://www.candlelighters.org

Pituitary Network Association (PNA)
P.O. Box 1958
Thousand Oaks
CA
91358
USA
Tel: (805)499-9973
Fax: (805)480-0633
pna@pituitary.org
http://www.pituitary.org, www.acromegaly.org

American Cancer Society, Inc.
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta
GA
30329
USA
Tel: (404)320-3333
800: (800)227-2345
http://www.cancer.org

National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Blvd, MSC 8322, Room 3036A
Bethesda
MD
20892-8322
USA
Tel: (301)435-3848
800: (800)422-6237
TDD: (800)332-8615
http://www.cancer.gov

Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
620 Colborne Street
Suite 301
London
Ontario
N6B 3R9
Canada
Tel: 5196427755
Fax: 5196427192
800: 8002655106
btfc@btfc.org
http://www.braintumour.ca

Childhood Cancer Foundation - Candlelighters Canada
55 Eglinton Avenue East
Suite 401
Toronto, Ontario
Intl
M4P 1G8
Canada
Tel: 4164896440
Fax: 4164899812
800: 8003631062
staff@candlelighters.ca
http://www.childhoodcancer.ca

Brain Tumour Foundation, United Kingdom
P.O. Box 123
Tewkesbury
GL20 7PT
United Kingdom
Tel: 01684 290439
Fax: 01684 290439
btf.uk@virgin.netChildren's Brain Tumor Foundation
274 Madison Avenue
Suite 1301
New York
NY
10016
United States
Tel: (212)448-9494
Fax: (212)448-1022
800: (866)228-4673
info@cbtf.org
http://www.cbtf.org

Brain Tumor Foundation for Children, Inc.
1835 Savoy Drive
Suite 200
Atlanta
GA
30341
USA
Tel: (770)458-5554
Fax: (770)458-5467
btfc@bellsouth.net
http://www.braintumorkids.org

Cancer Research UK
PO Box 123
Lincoln's Inn Fields
London
Intl
WC2A 3PX
United Kingdom
Tel: 020-7242 0200
Fax: 020-7269 3100
http://www.imperialcancer.co.uk

MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay
WI
54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
800: (877)336-5333
mums@netnet.net
http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Chordoma Support Group
chordoma@groups.msn.com
http://groups.msn.com/chordoma

Friends of Cancer Research
2231 Crystal Drive
Suite 200
Arlington
VA
22202
Tel: (703)302-1503
Fax: (703)302-1568
info@focr.org
http://www.focr.org

Wellness Community
919 18th Street N.W.
Suite 54
Washington
DC
20006
Tel: (202)659-9709
Fax: (202)659-9301
800: (888)793-9355
help@thewellnesscommunity.org
http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org

Lance Armstrong Foundation
PO Box 161550
Austin
TX
78716-1150
Tel: (512)236-8820
Fax: (512)236-8482
800: (866)235-7205
http://www.livestrong.org

For a Complete Report:

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 5/9/2008
Copyright 2004 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

WebMD Medical Reference from the National Organization of Rare Disorders

Last Updated: May 09, 2008

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.