Objective: : Cranial base chordomas are rare, but their treatment is challenging. Tumor recurrence is still common despite improvements in microsurgical techniques and postoperative radiotherapy. We retrospectively analyzed the course of treatment, overall survival, and recurrence/progression of chordomas over the past 10 years. Methods: : We retrospectively reviewed 50 patients who underwent surgery at Tianjin Huanhu Hospital between 2010 and 2020 and were pathologically diagnosed with chordomas. Tumor resection was performed within the maximum safe range in all patients; the extent of resection was evaluated by imaging; and the incidence of complications, recurrence or progression, and overall survival were assessed. Results: : Fifty patients were divided into the low-risk group (LRG) and high-risk group (HRG) based on the cranial chordoma grading system (CCGS). The Karnofsky Performance Scale scores and gross total resection rate of the LRG were significantly higher than those of the HRG (p<0.05). The incidence of complications and mortality in the LRG were lower than those of HRG. The analysis of cumulative survival and cumulative recurrence free survival/progression free survival (RFS/PFS) showed no statistical differences in the extent of resection for survival, recurrence, or progression. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that Ki-67 was significantly associated with tumor recurrence and was an independent hazard factor (p=0.02). Conclusion : The CCGS can help neurosurgeons anticipate surgical outcomes. Pathological results are important in evaluating the possibility of tumor recurrence, and postoperative radiotherapy improves overall survival and RFS/PFS.

Objective: : The clinical management paradigm of skull base chordomas is still challenging. Surgical resection plays an important role of affecting the prognosis. Endonasal endoscopic approach (EEA) has gradually become the preferred surgical approach in most cases, but traditional transcranial surgery cannot be completely replaced. This study presents a comparison of the results of the two surgical strategies and a summary of the treatment algorithms for skull base chordomas. Methods: : We retrospectively analyzed the surgical outcomes and follow-up data of 48 patients with skull base chordomas diagnosed pathologically who received transnasal midline approaches (TMA) and transcranial lateral approaches (TLA) from 2010 to 2020. Results: : Among the 48 patients, 36 cases were adopted TMA and 12 cases were performed with TLA. In terms of gross total resection (GTR) rate, 27.8% in TMA and 16.7% in TLA and with EEA alone it was increased to 38.9%, while 29.7% in primary surgery. In TMA, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak remains the most common complication (13 cases, 36.1%), other main complications included death, cranial nerve palsy, hypopituitarism, all the comparisons were no statistical significance. The Karnofsky Performance Scale scores in TMA were all better than those in TLA at different time, and the overall survival (OS) and recurrence free survival/progression free survival was just the reverse. Conclusion : The EEA for skull base chordomas resection has improved the GTR rate, but transcranial approach is still an alternative approach. It is necessary to select an appropriate surgical approach based on the location and the pattern of tumor growth in order to obtain the best surgical outcomes.

Objective To investigate the surgical outcomes and strategies selection of endoscopic endonasal approach and craniotomy in the treatment of cranial base chordomas.Methods Thirty-one patients diagnosed pathologically with cranial base chordoma in Tianjin huanhu hospital from Jan.2010 to Sep.2020 were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into the endoscopic endonasal group and the craniotomy microscope group according to the different surgical approaches.The surgical results and follow-up between the two groups were compared.Results In the endoscopic endonasal group,there were 7 cases of gross total resection,9 cases of subtotal resection and 2 cases of partial resection.The main complications included death in 2 cases,cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 8 cases,cranial nerve injury in 2 cases and hypopituitarism in 1 case.In the craniotomy microscope group,there were 2 cases of gross total resection,10 cases of subtotal resection,and 1 case of partial resection.The main complications included cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 1 case,cranial nerve injury in 3 cases,epilepsy in 1 case and epidural hematoma in 1 case.There was no statistical significance in the resection rate between the two groups(P＞0.05).The rate of cerebrospinal fluid leakage in the endoscopic group was significantly higher than that in the craniotomy microscope group,and the comparison was statistically significant(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant between the two groups for tumor recurrence or progression.Conclusions The endoscopic endonasal approaches for resection of cranial base chordomas have improved the gross total resection rate,but craniotomy is still an important surgical method for tumor resection.It is necessary to select an appropriate surgical approach according to the lesion location and pattern of tumor growth.