Chordoma

The Brown University Chordoma Center at Rhode Island Hospital combines extensive experience and technical expertise in the multidisciplinary treatment of chordoma arising from the spine and skull base. Chordoma is a rare and aggressive bone tumor. They arise from remnants of embryonic cells present at birth and continue to grow anywhere along the spine from the skull base to the sacrum. Although slow-growing, they can be life-threatening if not treated properly. Effective treatment is challenging and often requires the removal of the entire tumor in one piece (en-bloc resection technique) while operating near critical neural and vascular structures.

Our center is led by the chairman of the Brown / Lifespan Neurosurgery Department, Dr. Ziya L. Gokaslan, a world-renowned neurosurgeon with unique expertise in spinal chordoma treatment. Our team of neurosurgeons, general surgeons, plastic surgeons, oncologists, and radiation oncologists work together to ensure patients receive personalized specialty care to ensure an optimal treatment outcome.

Director

Neurosurgery Department Team

Multidisciplinary Team

General Surgery

Neuro-Oncology

Plastic Surgery
Paul Liu, MD, Plastic Surgeon, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Radiation Oncology
Jarek Hepel, MD, Radiation Oncologist, Department of Radiation Oncology

Spinal Chordoma
Cranial Chordoma

“Chordomas are best treated with complete removal, with en bloc resection of the tumor. Those are some of the techniques I developed over the years to be able to do that in any location in the spinal column.”

– Ziya L. Gokaslan, MD