Surgical Results of Chest Wall Tumors: Experience of 19 Years

Abstract

Aim: We conducted a retrospective clinical, radiological and pathological evaluation of 90 consecutive patients with primary chest wall tumors.
Methods: From 1991 to 2011, 90 patients with the diagnosis of primary chest wall tumors were treated and their results were evaluated.
Results: There were 54 males and 26 females ranging in age from 12 to 69 years (median, 22.85 years); 37 had a primary malignant tumor and 53 had a benign tumor. Pain and palpable mass were prominent symptoms. All the patients underwent resection. Overlying soft tissue was resected en bloc in 15 patients. Chest wall defects were reconstructed with prosthetic material or autogenous grafts when the defects were large. Soft tissue reconstructive procedures were muscle transposition. There were no early postoperative complications. Follow-up was complete in all patients and ranged from 2 to 36 months (median, 24.5 months). All patients with benign tumors are currently alive. Tumor recurrence developed in 6 patients. There were no early mortality related to resection of the chest wall.
Conclusion: CWTs should be primarily considered malignant. Successful outcome depends upon adequate chest wall resection, according to histopathologic type of tumor. Large defects make reconstruction mandatory for thoracic restoration.