Chordomas are rare neoplasms arising from notochordal remnants that persist along the axial skeleton. Intracranial chordomas occur more frequently in the midline. We describe an atypical case of an off-midline chordoma arising from the petrous apex, and discuss the embryogenic factors which determine that location, as well as the symptoms, imaging findings, surgical treatment and evolution.
Chordoma; Petrous apex; Computed tomography; Magnetic resonance imaging