Case Report
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 28, 2008; 14(16): 2586-2589
Published online Apr 28, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.2586
Transrectal EUS-guided FNA biopsy of a presacral chordoma-report of a case and review of the literature
Klaus Gottlieb, Paul H Lin, David M Liu, Karl Anders
Klaus Gottlieb, Endoscopic Ultrasound and Interventional Endoscopy, Spokane WA 99202, United States
Paul H Lin, Surgical Specialists of Spokane, Spokane WA 99202, United States
David M Liu, Inland Imaging, Spokane WA 99202, United States
Karl Anders, Deaconess Pathology, Spokane WA 99202, United States
Author contributions: Gottlieb K wrote the manuscript and performed EUS; Lin PH provided advice and referred the patient; Liu DM critically revised the manuscript; Anders K conducted the pathological examination.
Correspondence to: Klaus Gottlieb, MD, Endoscopic Ultrasound, 1314 S Grand Blvd #2141, Spokane WA 99202, United States. klausg@u.washington.edu
Telephone: +1-509-4553453
Fax: +1-509-2720136
Received: December 25, 2007
Revised: March 5, 2008
Published online: April 28, 2008
Abstract

Chordomas are rare tumors which originate from the remnants of the notochord. These tumors are locally aggressive and have a predilection for the ends of the axial skeleton. An important prerequisite for optimal management of these tumors is a correct preoperative diagnosis. The present case is the first report of the use of endoscopic ultrasound to obtain transrectal fine needle aspiration biopsy of a presacral chordoma. A review of the prior computer tomography (CT) scans allowed us to calculate the tumor volume doubling time (18.3 mo). Transrectal biopsy of chordomas is controversial, however we believe that such concerns are not justified.

Keywords: Chordoma; Endoscopic ultrasound; Spinal tumors; Trans-rectal biopsies