Chordoma stages
After a chordoma diagnosis, the next step often is to find out the cancer's extent. This also is called the cancer's stage. Staging is the process health professionals use to describe how much cancer is in the body and where it is. Imaging tests can help measure the tumor. Biopsies may be done to look at the cancer cells. Your healthcare team uses the cancer stage to help create your treatment plan.
Chordoma staging might be done using different staging systems. Examples of systems include the:
- Enneking system, which has three stages.
- American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) system, which has four stages.
Staging terms
For chordoma, staging usually looks at a few factors. The AJCC system refers to these as T, N and M.:
- T. The size of the tumor.
- N. Whether the tumor has spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes.
- M. Whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
A lower stage number, no matter which staging system is used, means the cancer is less advanced. This means it's smaller, growing slowly and has not spread from the original tumor area. A higher stage number means the cancer is larger, growing more quickly or has spread.
Health professionals also look at how aggressive tumor cells look under a microscope. This is known as the tumor's grade (G).
A lower grade number, no matter which staging system is used, means a less aggressive, slower growing cancer. A higher grade number means a more aggressive, faster growing cancer.
- The Enneking system has two grades.
- The AJCC system has four grades.
Staging also might include the type of chordoma because it can relate to how aggressive it may be. Dedifferentiated and poorly differentiated chordomas tend to be more aggressive than conventional, also called classic and classical chordomas or chondroid chordomas. And chondroid chordomas tend to be more aggressive than conventional chordomas.
You may hear the term "end-stage chordoma." This refers to a chordoma that cannot be cured or managed with treatment. End-stage cancer treatment focuses on controlling pain and other symptoms to improve comfort.
Chordoma prognosis
A cancer prognosis tells you how likely it is that the cancer can be cured. Your healthcare team can get a general sense of your prognosis from staging. But the stage can't tell your future. Your personal prognosis may depend on:
- Biopsy results.
- How much of the tumor can be taken out during surgery.
- The cancer's stage and grade.
Talk with your healthcare team about your prognosis if you want to know what to expect. Your healthcare team members can explain what they consider when thinking about your prognosis.
Oct. 17, 2025