Cutaneous metastasis of chordoma

BACKGROUND. Chordomas are rare neoplasms that arise from the notochord remn ant. They develop in the sacrococcygeal (50%) or cervical (15%) region and are generally regarded as a locally aggressive tumor with a slow progressiv e growth rate and a metastatic incidence ranging from 3 to 48%. Skin involv ement by chordoma is rare, but can occur by direct extension, by local recu rrence and by metastases. OBJECTIVE. TO illustrate by a case report the clinical presentation and man agement of this disease. METHODS. We present a case of sacral chordoma with metastases over a 10-yea r period to the lungs, the soft tissue of the chest wall, the triceps tendo n, and distant cutaneous metastases to the back and the nose. RESULTS. The cutaneous metastases were treated by excision, CONCLUSION. Chordoma is a slow growing tumor of the notochord remnant that may metastasize to the skin. Physicians and pathologists should be aware of this entity.