ReviewJournal of neuro-oncology2025
Characteristics and survival outcomes in pediatric patients with spinal chordomas: insights from the National Cancer Database and review of the literature.
Review in Journal of neuro-oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Endovascular treatment of tumor-related dural sinus stenosis, venous outflow obstruction, and secondary intracranial hypertension: a systematic review of the literature.Journal of neuro-oncology · 2026Pooled it
- Overall survival following treatment of central nervous system meningeal melanocytomas: Insights from the national cancer database (NCDB).Brain & spine · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeSpinal chordomas are aggressive tumors that rarely occur in the pediatric population. Demographics and post-treatment outcomes in this select group of patients is poorly studied. We hence aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics, demographics, and survival outcomes of pediatric patients with spinal chordomas, in contrast to the adult population. To address this, the literature was reviewed to evaluate the coverage on spinal chordomas of the pediatric population, and the National Cancer Database (NCDB) was analyzed to provide insights into the US experience over the past two decades.
methodsA search of the literature was performed leveraging the MEDLINE and Web of Science electronic databases from inception until March 2024, using the keywords "spinal," "chordoma," and "pediatric". Additionally, the NCDB was queried for pediatric patients (≤ 21 years) with chordoma treated between 2004 and 2017. Baseline characteristics, tumor specifics, treatment details, and survival outcomes were collected and analyzed.
resultsFrom the literature, 45 pediatric chordoma patients were identified, with a median age of 7 years. Most chordomas were in the cervical spine (40%), and 93% of the patients received surgical treatment. Gross total resection was achieved in 59% of cases, and 49% received adjuvant radiotherapy. Recurrence, metastasis, and mortality rates were 7%, 18%, and 24%, respectively at a median follow-up of 12 months. In the NCDB cohort, 53 pediatric patients (≤ 21 years) and 980 adults (> 21 years) were compared. Despite having smaller tumors in size, pediatric patients presented with more advanced tumors with a higher proportion of stage 4 tumors. They had more mobile spine chordomas (83% vs. 51%) and traveled further for treatment (57 vs. 27 miles). Pediatric patients also received higher radiation doses (5420 vs. 5049 cGy). Surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy were common treatments in both groups. After matching, outcomes, including survival rates and early mortality, were similar between age groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no difference in overall survival probabilities between the age groups both prior to and after matching.
conclusionWhile pediatric patients with spinal chordomas present with more advanced stage tumors, they demonstrate similar overall survival outcomes when compared to adults. The current literature is mainly composed of single cases and other reports of low evidence levels.
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