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Oncology
intermediate
X-Type

Chordoma

Primary Bone Tumors

A 55-year-old man presents with progressive low back pain and constipation over 6 months. Rectal examination reveals a presacral mass. MRI shows a large lobulated mass centered in the sacrum, hyperintense on T2, with destruction of S3-S5. CT shows characteristic bone destruction with preserved cortical margins. Biopsy reveals epithelioid cells with abundant bubbly cytoplasm (physaliphorous cells) positive for brachyury and cytokeratin. Regarding chordoma:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

Chordoma is a rare primary malignant bone tumor arising from notochordal remnants; it occurs exclusi...

B

Histologically, chordomas contain characteristic physaliphorous cells (cells with abundant bubbly/va...

C

Chordoma arises from mesenchymal cells; it occurs in appendicular skeleton; the most common location...

D

Imaging shows: CT reveals osteolytic bone destruction with soft tissue mass, often with calcificatio...

E

Chordomas are relatively radioresistant to conventional radiotherapy; high-dose proton beam or carbo...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option