Case Reports
L2 Chordoma in an 11-Year-Old Girl
Am J Orthop. 2008 July;37(7):E121-E125
Author and Disclosure Information
Asheesh Bedi, MD, Ramesh C. Srinivasan, MD, Laurel C. Blakemore, MD, and Gregory P. Graziano, MD
Dr. Bedi is Fellow, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery, Hospital of Special Surgery, New York, New York.
Dr. Srinivasan is Resident Physician, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Dr. Blakemore is Chief, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
Dr. Graziano is Associate Professor and Chief, Section of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Abstract not available. Introduction provided instead.
Chordomas are rare malignant bone tumors that account for only 1% to 4% of all primary bone tumors. Originating from embryonic remnants of the primitive notochord, these lesions arise in the midline of the axial skeleton.1-4 Chordomas are predominantly found in the sacrococcygeal and clival (skull base) regions and typically affect adults in the fifth to seventh decade of life. Prognosis for these radioresistant lesions is highly dependent on complete resection with proven, tumor-free surgical margins.5-9 The unusual case of an L2 chordoma in a pediatric patient managed with en bloc vertebral resection and T12–L3 segmental fusion via a posterior approach is presented. A computer image guidance system was used to assist with pedicle screw placement and spinal instrumentation.10,11