"Intradural chordoma" or "giant ecchordosis physaliphora"? Report of two cases.

Two completely intradural extraosseous tumors with the histologic appearance of chordoma or ecchordosis physaliphora caused symptoms and, in 1 case, ultimately the death of a 44-year-old man. The literature contains 5 similar cases, 2 of which were associated with intratumoral and subarachnoid hemorrhage. In view of the circumscribed nature of such tumors and their lack of osseous involvement, they lend themselves to surgical resection. These features may justify distinguishing "intradural chordoma" from classic chordoma.