Aspetti TC dei cordomi sacrococcigei

From June 1985 to September 1986, eight patients affected by sacrococcygeal chordoma were examined by means of conventional radiography and tomography first, and then by high-resolution CT. All patients underwent surgery and an histologic examination of the surgical specimen was carried out. CT always allowed to detect the sacro-coccygeal neoplasm, which looked like a solid non-homogeneous mass; in 50% of cases coarse calcifications were found. CT made it possible to evaluate the growing side of the tumor, its relation with the adjacent anatomical structures-especially the longitudinal extension and the involvement of the sacral hiatus; these findings proved to be very useful in order to choose the most appropriate surgical technique. CT findings also suggested the nature of the tumor but rarely allowed a definitive diagnosis. CT is, at any rate, mandatory in order to evaluate the real extent of the tumor and to plan surgery.