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Published in: Japanese Journal of Radiology 6/2012

01-07-2012 | Original article

Imaging characteristics of metastatic chordoma

Authors: Riwa Kishimoto, Tokuhiko Omatsu, Azusa Hasegawa, Reiko Imai, Susumu Kandatsu, Tadashi Kamada

Published in: Japanese Journal of Radiology | Issue 6/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

Our aim was to describe the incidence and sites of metastatic chordomas and show their characteristic computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) findings.

Materials and methods

One hundred ninety-eight chordoma patients were registered in the institutional database and were followed up with CT and MR examinations for periods ranging from 1 to 158 months. Clinical features and CT and MR findings of metastatic chordomas were analyzed by two radiologists.

Results

We counted 86 metastatic sites in 49 of 198 patients. The incidence of metastasis was 24.7 %. Sites of metastases were bone, lung, liver, lymph node, muscle, skin, pleura, cerebellum, cardiac muscle, pericardium, and adrenal gland. Duration from the diagnosis to the first detection of metastasis ranged from 0 to 600 months, with an average of 45.0 months. Osteolytic lesions were most common bone metastases, but osteosclerotic metastasis was also encountered. Metastatic chordoma showed very high intensity on diffusion-weighted (DW) images in 29 of 31 patients.

Conclusion

Metastases of chordoma are not rare and may occur several years after primary lesion presentation. The high intensity of DW images is characteristic and helpful for detecting metastatic chordoma.
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Metadata
Title
Imaging characteristics of metastatic chordoma
Authors
Riwa Kishimoto
Tokuhiko Omatsu
Azusa Hasegawa
Reiko Imai
Susumu Kandatsu
Tadashi Kamada
Publication date
01-07-2012
Publisher
Springer Japan
Published in
Japanese Journal of Radiology / Issue 6/2012
Print ISSN: 1867-1071
Electronic ISSN: 1867-108X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-012-0086-3

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