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Chordoma - Morphology: The degree of cytologic atypia is variable and ranges from low-grade (uniform cells; rare mitoses) to high-grade (rare cases; pleomorphic nuclei; frequent mitoses).
Some cases show degenerative type atypia consisting of hyperchromatic, irregular nuclei with smudged chromatin (shown here). Mitotic activity is not increased. Binucleated and multinucleated cells may also be present. Such atypia has no clinical significance. Some cases have spindle cell morphology. Necrosis is present in larger and in poorly-differentiated tumors.
Some cases show degenerative type atypia consisting of hyperchromatic, irregular nuclei with smudged chromatin (shown here). Mitotic activity is not increased. Binucleated and multinucleated cells may also be present. Such atypia has no clinical significance. Some cases have spindle cell morphology. Necrosis is present in larger and in poorly-differentiated tumors.