Sacroccygeal chordoma is a rare type of cancer that develops from remnants of the notochord, a structure present during early fetal development. Here's a breakdown of each aspect.
Persistent pain or discomfort in the sacrum (base of the spine) or coccyx (tailbone)
Difficulty sitting or discomfort while sitting
Bowel or bladder dysfunction
Numbness or weakness in the legs
Unexplained weight loss
Changes in bowel habits or urinary function
Mass or lump in the sacral or coccygeal region
Surgery: Surgical removal of the tumor is the primary treatment for sacrococcygeal chordoma. However, due to the complex anatomy and proximity to vital structures, such as nerves and blood vessels, complete resection can be challenging.
Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy may be used before or after surgery to reduce the size of the tumor, target any remaining cancer cells, or alleviate symptoms.
Chemotherapy: While chordomas are not typically responsive to chemotherapy, it may be used in combination with surgery and radiation therapy in some cases.
Targeted therapy: Emerging treatments such as targeted therapy, which specifically targets certain molecular pathways involved in tumor growth, are being investigated for chordomas.
Imaging tests: Imaging studies such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET) scans are used to visualize the tumor, assess its size and location, and determine the extent of involvement of nearby structures.
Biopsy: A biopsy is performed to obtain a tissue sample from the tumor, which is then examined under a microscope by a pathologist to confirm the diagnosis of chordoma.
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