Spontaneous Regression of Multiple Pulmonary Metastasis of Sacral Chordoma

Abstract

Case: A 53-year-old man was referred to our institution for the treatment of sacral chordoma and underwent a wide resection. Multiple lung metastases were observed in both the lungs, a year after the surgery, and the diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy. The patient refused treatment, and the lesions continued to increase in size gradually. However, 3 years and 6 months after the surgery, computed tomography of both the lungs showed spontaneous regression of the lesions without any obvious causes. The metastatic lung lesions had disappeared at the final follow-up, 7 years and 5 months after the multiple pulmonary metastases were diagnosed. Conclusion: We report the first case of spontaneous regression of pathologically proven pulmonary metastases of a sacral chordoma.

Sacrococcygeal chordoma with spontaneous regression due to a large hemorrhagic component

“…The mechanism behind SR in malignant tumors is unclear, and several possible causes have been reported, including immunological or endocrine diseases [2,4,5]. The present case was interpreted by us as a spontaneous partial regression due to a decrease in the hemorrhagic component.…”

“…The phenomenon of spontaneous regression (SR) in chordomas is exceedingly rare, with only a few reported cases in literature (to date, cases of SR of clival chordomas [2,3], cervical chordomas [4], and pulmonary metastases in a sacral chordoma [5] have been published). SR is defined as the partial or complete disappearance of a malignant tumor in the absence of therapy or with inadequate treatment [5]. Our patient did not undergo any medicamentous treatment during the time period wherein the SR occurred.…”