Extended endoscopic endonasal surgery for clival chordoma and chondrosarcoma: Our experience in 14 cases

Abstract Objective To report our experience in the management of chordoma and chondrosarcoma with extended endoscopic endonasal surgery. Method We performed a retrospective analysis of a series of 14 patients with clival chordoma or chondrosarcoma who had extended endoscopic endonasal surgery from 2008 to 2016 performed by the same multidisciplinary team. Results We had fourteen patients (male/female 2:1), with a mean age of 49 years for chordoma and 32 for chondrosarcoma. The most common clinical presentation was diplopia in 78.5% of cases, followed by dysphagia in 28.6%. Histologically, 71.4% were chordomas and 28.6% were chondrosarcomas. In addition, invasion of at least two-thirds or more of the clivus was found in 81% of the cases; in 57.1% there was intradural invasion, and in 35.7% invasion of the sella turcica. In 42.8% of cases, the degree of resection was total and in 21.5% subtotal. The most common complication was CSF fistula, occurring in 28.6% of the cases, with only one case requiring surgery to repair it. Adjuvant treatment with Proton Beam was performed in 35.7% of cases and with conventional radiotherapy in 21.5%. Mean follow-up was 53.5 months and tumour recurrence or progression was found in 21.5% of the cases, two of which had not received adjuvant treatment. There were no deaths. Conclusion The extended endoscopic endonasal approach (EEEA) performed by an experienced team is a good alternative for the management of these lesions. Intradural invasion may be related to an increased risk of complications and worse clinical presentation, in addition to a lower rate of total resection.