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Chordoma
Pronunciation
Definition 1
A type of bone cancer that usually starts in the lower spinal column or at the base of the skull. (NCI Dictionary)
Definition 2
A malignant bone tumor arising from the remnants of the fetal notochord. Although it can occur at all ages, it is more frequently seen in middle-aged adults. Most frequent sites of involvement are: sacrococcygeal area, spheno-occipital area, and the cervico-thoraco-lumbar spine. Microscopically, chordomas are composed of cells that form cords and lobules, separated by mucoid intercellular tissue. Some of the cells are large (physaliphorous) and have vacuolated cytoplasm and prominent vesicular nuclei. Other tumor cells are small with small nuclei without visible nucleoli. Chordomas tend to recur and may metastasize. The most common sites of metastasis are skin and bone. (NCI Thesaurus)
Definition 3
A low to intermediate grade malignant tumor that recapitulates notochord. (NCI Thesaurus)
Definition 4
A malignant bone neoplasm arising from the remnants of the fetal notochord. (NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)