Question

Which is the treatment of choice for irradiation in Chordoma ?

• A. Protons
• B. Electrons
• C. Gamma radiation
• D. 3D - CRT

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Characterize the lesion. A chordoma is a slow, locally invasive tumor derived from notochord remnants, found mainly at the clivus and sacrum, lying right next to the brainstem and cord.

Step 2: State the therapeutic problem. These tumors resist radiation and require large doses for control, but the surrounding neural structures cannot tolerate stray dose. The ideal beam must concentrate energy at the target and stop abruptly beyond it.

Step 3: Select protons. Proton beams exploit the Bragg peak to dump their energy at a defined depth with minimal exit dose, allowing high tumor doses with maximal sparing of the brainstem and cord. Electrons penetrate too shallowly, while gamma and 3D-CRT photons deposit more dose in healthy tissue.

The high-precision charged-particle beam is the radiation of choice.\[\boxed{\text{Protons}}\]