Chordoma is an extremely rare and very dangerous type of tumour that is difficult to treat. At the Israeli Top Ihilov clinic, highly qualified oncologists of world renown are fighting this insidious disease, achieving impressive results thanks to rapid and ultra-precise diagnostics, the latest medical technologies, advanced anti-tumour methods, modern equipment, and an individual approach.
Among oncology patients who have received timely treatment for chordoma in Israel, about 70% manage to completely overcome the disease and prevent serious complications, including paralysis of the lower limbs, dysfunction of the pelvic organs, hearing and vision loss, as well as metastatic lesions of the liver, lungs, and other vital organs.
Modern Treatment Methods for Chordoma in Israel
Chordoma is a tumour that is believed to arise from residual cells of the embryonic notochord. It can develop in any segment of the spinal column, but such neoplasms are most often localized at the base of the skull and in the sacrococcygeal region. Oncologists are still debating the nature of the tumour. On one hand, the slow growth and rare metastasis indicate a benign nature of the formation, while on the other hand, the peculiarities of its location, the complexities of treatment, and frequent recurrences are signs of a malignant nature of the tumour.
There are three main types of chordomas, which differ in their degree of malignancy. Chondroid chordoma grows quite slowly, does not manifest for a long time, and rarely metastasizes. Conventional or classic chordoma is slightly more aggressive and metastasizes in almost half of cases. Undifferentiated chordoma is the most dangerous, characterized by rapid growth, invasion into surrounding tissues, and at advanced stages, the formation of secondary foci in distant organs.
Treatment methods for chordoma in Israel are selected based on the type, size, and localization of the neoplasm. Oncologists at the Top Ihilov Medical Center also take into account the stage of the disease, the age, and the overall health of the patient when determining the therapeutic strategy.
Surgical intervention is the primary treatment for tumours of this type. Ideally, the neoplasm is completely removed along with the capsule in which it is located and part of the surrounding tissues to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. In some cases—when the tumour is located in a complex area or is large—it is excised in parts. Typically, Israeli doctors perform such surgeries using gentle surgical techniques, employing modern endoscopic equipment and instruments.
For removing chordomas located at the base of the skull, endonasal (through the nasal passages) or transoral access is often used, meaning that the surgery is performed without a single external incision. This reduces the overall trauma of the intervention, lowers the risk of possible complications, avoids the formation of a visible postoperative scar, and accelerates the recovery period.
Radiation therapy, based on the use of ionizing radiation that is destructive to cancer cells, is primarily used as an adjunct method in the treatment of chordomas. It is usually administered after surgery to destroy any remaining tumour cells. Due to the peculiarities of the location of such neoplasms—near the spinal cord, nerve fibers, and major arteries—it can be difficult to remove them completely without damaging vital structures. Therefore, radiation therapy sessions after surgical intervention are usually mandatory.
Stereotactic radiosurgery, as a type of radiation therapy, can be used as an independent treatment method, unlike standard radiation. At the Top Ihilov clinic, it is particularly employed in situations where the patient has contraindications for surgery, as well as in cases of inoperable or hard-to-reach chordomas. The tumour is destroyed by targeting it from different angles with high doses of radiation. Many fine ionizing beams, each with a small power, pass through tissues and organs without causing them harm; their effect is summed only at the designated target—the tissues of the neoplasm.
Radiosurgical treatment of chordoma in Israel, which has received positive feedback indicating its high effectiveness, is performed using the state-of-the-art CyberKnife system, thanks to an innovative navigation system that ensures maximum precision of impact.
Chemotherapy is not very effective for such tumours, as their cells are resistant to the action of chemotherapeutic agents. In rare cases, it is used to combat aggressive chordomas as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Targeted therapy is used much more frequently than chemotherapy. It employs selective biological agents that penetrate cancer cells and block the reactions responsible for growth at the molecular level.
Diagnostics of Chordoma in Israel
Timely and highly accurate diagnostics are the key to successful treatment. At the Top Ihilov Medical Center, all examinations are conducted by experienced doctors using the latest diagnostic equipment, which eliminates the possibility of misdiagnosis. During diagnostics, the exact localization, size, and morphological type of the chordoma, the nature of the oncological process, and the stage of the disease are determined, as well as the exclusion of other pathologies with similar clinical presentations, in particular, chondrosarcoma, meningioma, and tumours of the brain and spinal cord. All this information is necessary for doctors to determine the most effective and safe treatment strategy.
The diagnostic process here is structured to take no more than 3–4 working days and occurs in three stages.
Stage 1: Consultation with an Oncologist
Upon arriving in Israel and settling into a hotel, the patient, accompanied by a personal manager who coordinates their medical program and acts as a translator, goes to the clinic for a consultation with the attending physician. The doctor analyzes the complaints, reviews the medical history, and studies the results of previously conducted examinations (if the relevant documents were brought by the patient). After this, they perform an examination, which also includes a neurological assessment, and determine the list of necessary diagnostic procedures.
Stage 2: Chordoma Diagnostics in Israel
The examination may include:
- X-ray, which is used to identify areas of bone tissue destruction, determine the extent of the lesion, and for differential diagnosis;
- Computed tomography – helps clarify the localization features of the chordoma relative to nearby organs and tissues;
- Magnetic resonance imaging, which determines the shape, structure, and volume of the tumour, establishes the presence of metastases, and identifies the stage of the disease;
- Biopsy – to determine the morphological type of the chordoma through histological examination of the tissue sample, which allows confirming (or refuting) the diagnosis;
- Angiography – to assess the degree of involvement of blood vessels in the oncological process.
Stage 3: Development of a Treatment Plan
The results of the examination are reviewed by a specially assembled expert group, which includes leading oncologists, neurosurgeons, oncologists-orthopaedists, neurologists, and other specialists from the Top Ihilov clinic involved in the treatment process. At the meeting, they carefully study the data from the diagnostic checks and based on this, develop the optimal therapy program, which is then adjusted if necessary.
Chordoma Treatment in Israel: Cost
The exact cost of treatment is announced by Israeli doctors only after all necessary diagnostic checks have been completed, and the therapeutic plan has been developed and approved. The price will depend on the volume, type, and localization of the tumour, the degree of its malignancy, the extent of the pathological process, the presence of metastases, the type and complexity of the surgical intervention, the number of diagnostic procedures performed, the cost of the anti-cancer drugs used, and many other factors.
However, regardless of the characteristics of the neoplasm and the stage of the disease, treatment at the Top Ihilov Medical Center will be cheaper than at other foreign clinics. This is because, due to the state policy in the healthcare sector, the prices for chordoma treatment in Israel are at least 30–50% lower compared to Western Europe and the USA, while the quality of medical care here is at the same high level.
Seven Key Reasons to Trust Chordoma Treatment to the Top Ihilov Clinic
- The use of the latest medical technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases.
- A high level of professional training and competence among Israeli doctors, who possess advanced knowledge and extensive clinical experience.
- The application of progressive anti-cancer techniques that have proven their effectiveness and safety.
- The oncology department is equipped with the latest models of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment.
- An individual approach in developing the medical program.
- An attractive price-quality ratio for medical services.
- First-class service and additional services for foreign patients.