Long-term control of clival chordoma with initial aggressive surgical resection and gamma knife radiosurgery for recurrence

Chordomas are locally destructive tumors with high rates of recurrence, and therapeutic strategies remain controversial. This study analyzed long-term outcomes for clival chordomas after initial aggressive surgical resection and gamma knife radiosurgery for recurrence and investigated clinical factors predicting recurrence. Clinical records were reviewed for 19 consecutive patients (11 men, 8 women; mean age, 43.1 years) with clival chordoma who underwent initial surgical resection using skull base approaches (mean follow-up after surgical resection, 87.2 months). All tumors were aggressively removed, along with the surrounding bone. Four patients were treated with radiotherapy after surgical resection. Recurrent lesions were treated with gamma knife radiosurgery or reoperation. Factors predicting tumor recurrence were analyzed, including age, tumor extension, extent of resection and MIB-1 labeling index. Patient status was evaluated using the Karnofsky performance scale (KPS). Tumor resection was total, subtotal and partial in 14, 4 and 1 patients, respectively. Tumors recurred in 11 patients. Overall, 2- and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 77.9% and 47.9%, respectively. The MIB-1 labeling index was independently associated with recurrence. The optimum cutoff point for the MIB-1 labeling index was 3.44%. All recurrent tumors were totally resected or controlled by gamma knife (mean follow-up after recurrence, 71.2 months). All patients survived and were active (mean KPS at final follow-up, 89.5%). Long-term control of clival chordomas was achieved. Recurrent tumors were controlled with gamma knife radiosurgery, since lesions were localized and small after initial aggressive resection. The MIB-1 labeling index can provide important information for predicting tumor recurrence.