Dr. Beauchamp describes a chordoma.
Dr. Beauchamp:
A chordoma is a rare tumor that occurs in the spine. It typically occurs at either the top end of the spine at the base of the skull or in the lower end of the spine in the sacrum or coccyx, or tailbone, and it is a malignant tumor. It has a very slow growing process that can make it difficult to detect.
Typically, patients with chordomas have symptoms for a long time. It’s not readily evident on x-ray and only with, only when the tumor becomes of such a size that it’s obvious that it’s there are patients diagnosed.
About Dr. Beauchamp, M.D.:
Dr. Christopher P. Beauchamp, M.D., is an orthopedic surgery and Associate Professor of Orthopedics at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. He focuses specifically on musculoskeletal oncology, adult reconstructive orthopedics, bone and soft tissue sarcomas, and infected, failed joint arthroplasty.
Visit Dr. Beauchamp at the Mayo Clinic