DIAGNOSIS
Sacrococcygeal chordoma symptoms may differ considerably depending on where the chordoma starts in your spine. You may suffer headaches or double vision if the chordoma spreads to the base of the skull. Chordoma around the tailbone may cause leg discomfort and difficulty managing your bladder or intestines. The following tests and techniques are used to diagnose chordoma:
- Imaging. If you have chordoma symptoms, your doctor will use an MRI to create a picture of your spine to determine the size and location of the tumor. A CT scan can also be used to evaluate whether or not the cancer has developed.
- Biopsy. To determine if the tumor is chordoma, your physician will do a biopsy, which involves extracting a tiny sample from the tumor using a needle. A pathologist will use a microscope to study cells from the sample to identify what type of tumor it really is. Chordoma cells resemble notochord cells when seen under a microscope.
TREATMENT
Sacrococcygeal chordoma therapy is determined by the cancer’s size and location, as well as whether it has infiltrated nerves or other tissues. Surgery, radiation treatment, radiosurgery, and targeted therapies may all be options.
If the chordoma affects the lower part of the spine (sacrum), the following treatments may be considered:
- Surgery.
- Radiation treatment.
- Radiosurgery.
- Targeted therapy
If the chordoma affects the region where the spine meets the skull (skull base), the following treatments may be considered:
- Surgery.
- Radiation treatment.
- New therapies.
