Fine needle aspiration cytology of sacrococcygeal chordoma- utility in a case of clinical dilemma

Abstract

Chordoma was originally described by Virchow in 1857 and further characterized by Ribbert in 1894. It is a rare low to intermediate grade malignant notochordal tumor that recapitulates the notochord and has a tendency for recurrences and metastasis.1,2 They represent 1–4% of all malignant bone tumors. Most prevailing theory regarding the development of chordoma is that the notochord fails to degenerate and undergoes malignant transformation. Approximately 50% of chordomas are sacrococcygeal in origin and usually present as destructive bone lesions with a large soft tissue mass.3–5