Cytological features of bone tumours in FNA smears IV: notochordal tumours.

Radiology See figure 47. Chordomas are often difficult to diagnose by conventional radiology, due to the fact that bowel gas and content obscure the outlining of the sacrum. Large chordomas may be overlooked. CT and MRI are the methods of choice to diagnose and to outline these tumours. In the sacrum the tumour destroys the cortex of the anterior and posterior faces, often with a large soft tissue component. Calcifications are commonly found. When chordomas occur in a vertebra, the radiological findings are those of bone destruction. Whichever the site, there is often growth into the spinal canal.