ABSTRACT
Ecchordosis physaliphora is a rare hamartomatous lesion of notochord origin that is
usually asymptomatic. In this case report, such a lesion arose at the clivus, with
extension through to the sphenoid sinus. As a result, it presented with cerebrospinal
fluid rhinorhea, making the case particularly unusual. We describe the treatment for
this rare situation and discuss its differentiation from chordoma, its malignant counterpart.
KEYWORDS
Ecchordosis physaliphora - chordoma - intradural chordoma - notochord - cerebrospinal
fluid
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discussion E527
Dr. Adebayo AlliM.B.B.Ch.
Honorary Anatomy Demonstrator, Department of Anatomy, Academic Centre, Henriette Raphael
Building
Guy's Campus, King's College, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
Email: bayoalli@doctors.org.uk
