Abstract
Chordoma is a rare low-grade malignant neoplasm, commonly found in the sacrococcygeal region and clivus of adults. The tumor is extremely rare in children. A case of chordoma diagnosed by nasopharyngeal biopsy in a 5 year-old-boy is reported. During surgery for the clinical diagnosis of adenoid hyperplasia, specimens were submitted for frozen section diagnosis. Imprint cytology showed typical physaliphorous cells occurring in clusters. A postoperative MRI revealed a lobulated tumor measuring 6 cm in size extending from the clivus to the nasopharynx, visualized as a hyperintensity. Cytology is useful for the diagnosis of chordoma, especially in very rare cases like this one.
