Skull Base Chordoma

What is a chordoma?

Chordomas are rare, benign and slow-growing bone tumors. Less than 1% of all primary brain tumors are chordomas. This type of tumor is mostly found at the base of the skull, but sometimes appears in the lower spine. Chordomas can invade adjacent bone and put pressure on nearby nervous tissue.

Symptoms of a chordoma:

Symptoms may include any or all of the following:

• headache
• visual changes
• changes in hearing

Diagnosis of a chordoma:

In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for chordoma may include CT or MRI scans to determine the size and location of the tumor. Learn more about diagnosing skull base tumors.

Treatment for chordoma:

Surgery, usually endonasal endoscopic surgery, is the most common treatment for chordomas. Radiation therapy may be performed after surgery. Learn more about treatment for skull base tumors.

To make an appointment or request a consultation, contact the Johns Hopkins Skull Base Tumor Center at 410-614-0585.