Abstract
Chordoma is a relatively rare malignant tumor of the skull base and sacrum thought to originate from embryonic remnants of the notochord. Chordomas arising from the skull base typically occur in the clivus, and extraosseous chordoma of the nasopharynx is extremely rare. A 34-year-old woman was diagnosed as having a nasopharyngeal tumor on April, 2009. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tumor in the nasopharynx not extending into the intracranial region. FNAC examination revealed findings suggestive of pleomorphic adenoma. Based on a suspected diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma of the nasopharynx, transnasal endoscopic surgery using CO2 laser was performed. Histological examination of the resected specimen revealed the diagnosis of chordoma. There has been no evidence of recurrence until the present, 3 years since the operation.
