Best Surgeon for Chordoma: Choosing the Right Specialist for Advanced Care

Receiving a chordoma diagnosis can feel overwhelming, confusing, and frightening. This rare bone cancer develops along the spine or skull base and requires highly specialized care. One of the most important steps in your treatment journey is finding the best surgeon, because surgery is the cornerstone of successful management. Because chordomas are rare and complex, outcomes depend heavily on the surgeon’s experience, precision, and access to a multidisciplinary care team.

This patient-centered guide explains what chordomas are, why specialized surgery matters, which surgeons are often associated with advanced chordoma care, and how to choose the best surgeon for chordoma.

When patients search for the best surgeon for treating a chordoma, they are often looking for more than technical skill; they also want hope, clarity, and confidence in their care. Chordomas frequently involve critical structures such as the skull base, brainstem, major blood vessels, and cranial nerves. Because chordomas often sit right next to vital nerves, blood vessels, and the spinal cord, even small surgical movements can carry serious risks. This is why selecting a highly experienced chordoma surgeon is so important.

Several internationally recognized surgeons are frequently referenced in discussions of advanced chordoma care.

Aaron Cohen-Gadol, MD has treated more than 7,500 tumors and has extensive experience in treatment of complex skull base and spinal tumors including chordomas and chondrosarcomas. He uses minimally invasive techniques with no or small incisions to remove most tumors through the nose. He is the founder of the Neurosurgical Atlas which has been recognized as the most respected resource in the world for treatment of chordomas and chondrosarcomas.

Juan Carlos Fernandez-Miranda, MD is an experienced skull base neurosurgeon whose significant contributions to the surgery of skull base has advanced the field. 

Paul Gardner, MD has been recognized for his contributions to the surgery of the skull base and related tumors.

These surgeons are well-known for their work in skull base and spinal tumor surgery, which are fields closely associated with chordoma treatment. However, the best surgeon for chordoma is ultimately the one whose experience aligns most closely with your tumor’s location, size, and complexity.

Dr. Aaron Cohen-Gadol is widely recognized for his expertise in treating complex neurosurgical tumors involving the skull base and spine, areas in which chordomas most commonly occur. Many patients consider him among the best surgeons for several distinguishing reasons, including his:

• Extensive experience treating rare and challenging skull base tumors
• Strong focus on patient education and shared decision-making
• Mastery of both traditional open and advanced minimally invasive microsurgical techniques
• Commitment to preserving neurological function while achieving maximal tumor removal

Although no single surgeon is right for every patient, Dr. Cohen-Gadol’s background and outcomes place him among the most respected names associated with advanced chordoma surgery.

Chordomas are rare, slow-growing cancerous tumors that arise from remnants of the notochord, a structure that is present during early fetal development. Although they grow slowly, chordomas are locally aggressive and can invade nearby bone, nerves, and soft tissues.

Chordomas occur most commonly in the skull base (clivus), spine, or sacrum (base of the spine). Because chordomas do not respond well to chemotherapy and have limited sensitivity to standard radiation, surgery performed by a skilled surgeon is the most critical component of treatment.

Chordoma surgery is among the most technically demanding procedures for neurosurgeons and orthopedic oncologists. Complete tumor removal with clean margins offers the best chance for long-term control, but achieving this result safely requires extraordinary expertise.

The best surgeons understand:

• Complex spinal and skull base anatomy
• How to minimize damage to critical nerves and blood vessels
• When to combine surgical approaches for optimal tumor access
• How surgical decisions affect long-term function and quality of life

Chordomas should not be treated by a general neurosurgeon or at a low-volume center.

Chordoma care often involves multiple surgical specialists, depending on the location of the tumor.

• Neurosurgeons treat skull base and spinal chordomas
• Orthopedic oncologists commonly manage sacral and spinal tumors
• ENT (ear, nose, and throat) or head and neck surgeons assist with skull base access
• Plastic and reconstructive surgeons help restore anatomy after tumor removal

The best surgeons typically lead or work within this type of collaborative surgical team.

Successful chordoma treatment requires more than expert surgery alone. Multidisciplinary care brings together specialists who collaborate on diagnosis, treatment planning, and long-term follow-up.

A comprehensive chordoma care team may include the following specialists:

• Neurosurgeon and/or orthopedic oncologist
• Radiation oncologist experienced in proton or carbon ion therapy
• Medical oncologist
• Radiologist and pathologist specializing in bone tumors
• Rehabilitation specialist

Patients treated by a surgeon within a multidisciplinary center often experience better outcomes and fewer complications.

The surgical approach used depends on tumor location, size, and extent. Common approaches include:

Open cranial or spinal surgery

Endoscopic endonasal through the nose surgery (for skull base chordomas)

Combined anterior and posterior spinal approaches

En bloc resection, when feasible, to reduce the risk of recurrence

The best surgeons carefully select the approach that balances maximal tumor removal with preservation of neurological function.

Advances in technology have expanded the surgical options for patients with a chordoma. Many leading surgeons now use:

High-definition microscopes and endoscopes

Neuronavigation and intraoperative imaging

Neuromonitoring to protect nerves

Precision tools for complex bone removal

Although chordoma surgery is rarely minimally invasive in the traditional sense, these advanced techniques enable surgeons to operate with greater accuracy and safety.

Finding the right surgeon takes time, but it is worth the effort. Consider the following steps:

1. Seek care at a high-volume academic or specialty center
2. Ask how many chordoma cases the surgeon treats annually
3. Confirm access to advanced radiation options if needed
4. Request a second opinion (a practice that is common and encouraged)
5. Choose a surgeon who listens, explains clearly, and earns your trust

The best surgeons are not only technically skilled but also committed to guiding their patients through every stage of care.

The best hospitals are specialized cancer or academic centers with a dedicated skull base or spine tumor program and experience treating chordomas.

Chordomas are treated primarily by neurosurgeons and orthopedic oncologists, often working together within a multidisciplinary team.

Surgery is the primary treatment. Complete tumor removal by a surgeon, often combined with specialized radiation therapy, offers the best chance for long-term control.

Yes. Many patients live long, meaningful lives after chordoma treatment, especially when the tumor is treated early and managed by experienced specialists.

Choosing the best surgeon for chordoma is one of the most important decisions you can make after receiving the diagnosis. Because chordomas are rare and complex, patient outcomes depend heavily on specialized surgical expertise, advanced technology, and a multidisciplinary care team. By seeking care from an experienced specialist and a dedicated center, patients can move forward with greater confidence, clearer options, and real hope for long-term control and quality of life.

The clinic is located at Cedars Towers East which is at 8631 W 3rd Street, Suite 815E, Los Angeles, CA 90048, near Beverly Grove. It’s easily accessible from San Vicente Boulevard or La Cienega Boulevard. Paid parking is available in the adjacent structure and limited street parking can be found nearby. For navigation, entering “8631 W 3rd St” into the GPS will direct you to the main entrance. 

The entrance to the Cedars Towers East parking garage is on Sherbourne Drive, located just north of 3rd Street. It is a self-parking garage with the address 217 S Sherbourne Dr, Los Angeles, CA. The entrance is on the right if you are traveling south on Sherbourne, or on the left if you are traveling north on Sherbourne. You then need to take the parking elevators to the plaza level and then cross the short bridge to use the East elevators to reach the 8th floor (suite 815.) Allow extra time for traffic and parking, especially during weekday mornings.