Are chordomas malignant?
Yes. Chordomas have all the characteristics of a malignant tumor, with local invasiveness (growth in to nearby tissues), tendency for recurrence, and potential to metastasize. Chordomas are considered a low grade malignancy because they are relatively slow growing and tend to recur locally rather than spread systemically. Because chordomas are low grade, they sometimes are mistakenly called benign. Benign tumors do not invade other tissue, do not metastasize, and usually do not return after being removed.
