Chordoma

Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Chordoma is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

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

Disorder Subdivisions

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• None

General Discussion

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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

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American Brain Tumor Association

2720 River Road

Suite 146

Des Plaines, IL 60018

USA

Tel: 8478279910

Fax: 8478279918

Tel: 8008862282

Email: info@abta.org

Internet: http://www.abta.org



National Brain Tumor Foundation

22 Battery Street

Suite 612

San Francisco, CA 94111-5520

USA

Tel: 4158349970

Fax: 4158349980

Tel: 8009342873

Email: nbtf@braintumor.org

Internet: http://www.braintumor.org



Brain Tumor Society

124 Watertown Street

Suite 3H

Watertown, MA 02472-2500

Tel: (617)924-9997

Fax: (617)924-9998

Tel: (800)770-8287

Email: info@tbts.org

Internet: http://www.tbts.org



Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation

P.O. Box 498

Kensington, MD 20895-0498

Tel: (301)962-3520

Fax: (301)962-3521

Tel: (800)366-2223

Email: staff@candlelighters,org

Internet: http://www.candlelighters.org



Pituitary Network Association (PNA)

P.O. Box 1958

Thousand Oaks, CA 91358

USA

Tel: 8054999973

Fax: 8054800633

Email: pna@pituitary.org

Internet: http://www.pituitary.org, www.acromegaly.org



American Cancer Society, Inc.

1599 Clifton Road NE

Atlanta, GA 30329

USA

Tel: 4043203333

Tel: 8002272345

Internet: http://www.cancer.org



National Cancer Institute

6116 Execuite Blvd, MSC 8322, Rm 3036A

Bethesda, MD 20892-8322

USA

Tel: 3014353848

Tel: 8004226237

TDD: 8003328615

Internet: http://www.cancer.gov



Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada

620 Colborne Street

Suite 301

London

Ontario, N6B 3R9

Canada

Tel: 5196427755

Fax: 5196427192

Tel: 8002655106

Email: btfc@btfc.org

Internet: 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

Tel: 8003631062

Email: staff@candlelighters.ca

Internet: http://www.childhoodcancer.ca



Brain Tumour Foundation, United Kingdom

P.O. Box 123

Tewkesbury, GL20 7PT

United Kingdom

Tel: 01684 290439

Fax: 01684 290439

Email: btf.uk@virgin.net



Children's Brain Tumor Foundation

274 Madison Avenue

Suite 1301

New York, NY 10016

United States

Tel: 2124489494

Fax: 2124481022

Tel: 8662284673

Email: info@cbtf.org

Internet: http://www.cbtf.org



Brain Tumor Foundation for Children, Inc.

1835 Savoy Drive

Suite 200

Atlanta, GA 30341

USA

Tel: 7704585554

Fax: 7704585467

Email: btfc@bellsouth.net

Internet: 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

Internet: http://www.imperialcancer.co.uk



Chordoma Support Group



Email: chordoma@groups.msn.com

Internet: 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

Email: info@focr.org

Internet: http://www.focr.org

For a Complete Report

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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

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Copyright   2004 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.