概述
脊索瘤是一种罕见的骨癌，最常见于脊柱或颅骨中。它最常在脊柱上方的颅骨（颅底）或脊柱底部（骶骨）形成。
脊索瘤起源于细胞，积聚到将发育成脊柱椎间盘的胚胎中。这些细胞大部分在您出生时或出生后不久就消失。但有时这些细胞中的少数会保留下来，罕见情况下，会发展成癌细胞。
脊索瘤最常见于 40 到 60 岁的成人，但可能发生在任何年龄。
脊索瘤通常生长缓慢。这是一种难以治疗的疾病，因为它通常非常靠近脊髓和其他重要结构，如动脉、神经或大脑。
症状
Signs and symptoms of chordoma may include:
- Headache.
- Neck pain.
- Vision trouble, including blurred or double vision or vision loss.
- Trouble with balance.
- Hearing loss.
- Facial paralysis.
- Muscle weakness.
- Trouble swallowing.
- Shortness of breath.
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with a doctor or other healthcare professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.
病因
It's not clear what causes most chordomas. This cancer most often starts in the bones in the skull or spine.
Chordoma happens when cells in the bones develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA holds the instructions that tell the cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA gives instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions tell the cells to die at a set time. In cancer cells, the DNA changes give different instructions. The changes tell the cancer cells to grow and multiply quickly. Cancer cells can keep living when healthy cells would die. This causes too many cells.
The cancer cells form a mass called a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue. In time, cancer cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it's called metastatic cancer.
风险因素
Factors that may increase the risk of chordoma include:
- Age. Chordoma can happen at any age. Most often, however, this cancer happens in people ages 40 to 60.
- Family history. People with a family history of chordoma may have a greater chance of developing it.