Barzilai University Medical Center

117 Research Day 2020 Barzilai University Medical Center 84 CHORDOMA IN THORACOLUMBAR SPINE. A CASE REPORT. Ron Batash a , Moshe Schaffer c , Evgeni Lee a , Azaria Simanovich b , Ronen Debi a , Omri Lubovsky a , Rustam Djabarov a a Department of Orthopedics, b Department of Radiology, c Department of Oncology Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel Background Chordomas arise from embryonic notochordal remnants along the length of the neuraxis at developmentally active sites. They constitute less than 1% of CNS tumors and rarely occur in extra- axial locations. Chordoma in the thoracic spine is considered rare and comprises less than 15% of all chordomas. Hypothesis CT and MRI scans can be misleading since chordomas are great mimickers of benign soft tissue tumors. In case of a malignant lesion such as chordoma carbon made rods prior to Proton Beam Therapy should be used. Objectives To describe a rare case of a chordoma in the thoracolumbar spine and discuss about the management of such cases. Results According to the imaging and location of the lesion, chordoma was not the suggested diagnosis. Surprisingly, based on the histopathological results, a chordoma was diagnosed. Due to the multidisciplinary treatment approach, the patient was prepared for following radiotherapy treatment. Two years after treatment, there are no signs of a lesion or clinical signs of thecal sac involvement. Conclusions When suspicion of an irregular space-occupying lesion arises, always act as if a malignancy is present. We recommend a multidisciplinary approach in coordination with oncologists, pathologists, the surgical team and the radiation centre for management of such cases.