Current Management and Image Review of Skull Base Chordoma: What the Radiologist Needs to Know

Abstract

Chordomas of the skull-base are typically slow-growing, notochord-derived tumors that most commonly originate along the clivus. Skull base chordoma is treated with surgery and radiotherapy. Local recurrence approaches 50% at 10 years. Radiologists play a critical role in diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up. Surgeons and radiation oncologists rely on radiologists for pre-operative delineation of tumor and adjacent anatomy, identification of post-treatment changes and disease recurrence, and radiation treatment effects. This review provides an overview of clinical characteristics, surgical anatomy, indications for radiotherapy, identification of treatment complications, and patterns of disease recurrence for radiologists to provide value in the management of these lesions.