Chordoma is an extremely rare and highly dangerous type of tumor that is difficult to treat. At the Israeli Top Ichilov clinic, highly qualified oncologists of world renown are fighting this insidious disease, achieving impressive results through rapid and ultra-precise diagnostics, the latest medical technologies, advanced anti-tumor methods, modern equipment, and an individual approach.
Among oncology patients who have undergone timely chordoma treatment 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 tumor that presumably arises from residual cells of the embryonic notochord. It can develop in any segment of the spine, but such neoplasms are most often localized at the base of the skull and in the sacrococcygeal region. Oncologists still debate the nature of the tumor. On one hand, its slow growth and rare metastasis indicate a benign nature, while on the other hand, its location, treatment difficulties, and frequent recurrences are signs of malignant nature.
There are three main types of chordomas, which differ in their degree of malignancy. Chondroid chordoma grows quite slowly, often showing no symptoms for a long time and rarely metastasizing. 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, accompanied by the formation of secondary foci in distant organs.
Treatment methods for chordoma in Israel are selected based on the type, size, and location of the neoplasm. Oncologists at the Top Ichilov medical center also consider the stage of the disease, the patient's age, and overall health when determining the therapeutic strategy.
Surgical intervention is the primary treatment for tumors 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, particularly with complex localization or large size, the tumor 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 the surgery is performed without any external incisions. This reduces the overall trauma of the intervention, lowers the risk of possible complications, avoids the formation of visible postoperative scars, and accelerates the recovery period.
Radiation therapy, based on the use of ionizing radiation harmful to cancer cells, is primarily used as an adjunct method in chordoma treatment. It is usually administered after surgery to destroy remaining tumor cells. Due to the location of such neoplasms—near the spinal cord, nerve fibers, and major arteries—it can be challenging 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 a standalone treatment method, unlike standard radiation. At the Top Ichilov clinic, it is particularly employed in situations where the patient has contraindications for surgery, as well as for inoperable or hard-to-reach chordomas. The tumor is destroyed by targeting it from different angles with high doses of radiation. Many thin ionizing beams, each with low power, pass through tissues and organs without causing harm, and their effect is summed only at the target—tumor tissues.
Radiosurgical treatment of chordoma in Israel, which has received positive feedback regarding 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 minimally effective for such tumors, as their cells are resistant to the effects 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.
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Diagnosis of Chordoma in Israel
Timely and highly accurate diagnosis is the key to successful treatment. At the Top Ichilov medical center, all examinations are conducted by experienced doctors using the latest diagnostic equipment, which eliminates the possibility of misdiagnosis. During diagnostics, the exact location, size, and morphological type of the chordoma, the nature of the oncological process, and the stage of the disease are determined, as well as other pathologies with similar clinical presentations, particularly chondrosarcoma, meningioma, and tumors of the brain and spinal cord are excluded. 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 in 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 treating 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: Diagnosis of Chordoma in Israel
The examination may include:
- X-ray, used to identify areas of bone tissue destruction, determine the extent of damage, 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 tumor, 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-orthopedists, neurologists, and other specialists from the Top Ichilov clinic involved in the treatment process. At the council, they carefully study the data from the diagnostic checks and based on this, develop the optimal therapy program, which is then adjusted as necessary.
Chordoma Treatment in Israel: Cost
The exact cost of treatment is disclosed 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 location of the tumor, 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 anticancer drugs used, and many other factors.
However, regardless of the characteristics of the neoplasm and the stage of the disease, treatment at the Top Ichilov medical center will be cheaper than in other foreign clinics. This is because, due to government 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 Ichilov Clinic
- The use of the latest medical technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases.
- The high level of professional training and competence of 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.