Reconstruction of the Anterior Chest Wall After Subtotal Sternectomy for Metastatic Breast Cancer: Report of a Case

Sternal resection and reconstruction for metastasis due to breast cancer: the Marlex sandwich technique and implantation of a pedicled latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap

Background

The treatment of hemotogenous solitary sternal metastases by breast cancer remains a controversial issue. Sternal resection for select patients might provide good long-term local control.

Case presentation

A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a mass at the sternum and right second to third costochondral cartilage. She had undergone bilateral mastectomy for breast cancer 13 years earlier. A percutaneous biopsy was performed, and the mass was diagnosed as solitary metastasis due to breast cancer. She received two courses of weekly paclitaxel and bevacizumab, and computed tomography (CT) revealed shrinking of the mass in the sternum. We performed surgical resection with curative intent for a multimodality approach. Parasternectomy and removal of the right second and third costochondral cartilage was performed. A prosthesis was created to fill the defect by sandwiching molded methylmethacrylate between polypropylene mesh. The prosthesis was fixed to the cut ends of the costochondral cartilage and the residual sternum. Finally, a harvested latissimus dorsi myoctaneous flap was transpositioned to cover the chest midline wound. Negative surgical margins at the stump of the sternum and costochondral cartilage were revealed.

Conclusion

Parasternal resection and reconstruction by the Marlex sandwich technique and implantation of a pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap for metastasis due to breast cancer was safely performed.

First case of sternum replacement with a bioceramic prosthesis after radio-induced sarcoma

Objectives

To date, no "gold standard" technique has been developed for sternum replacement in cases of radioinduced sarcoma, which is a rare and aggressive disease. Current techniques rely on metallic prostheses, meshes, or bone grafts-procedures that that are associated with several complications. We therefore tried a new solution that might simplify and optimize this surgery.

Methods

We used a porous alumina ceramic prosthesis (Ceramil: i.ceram, Limoges, France) that has several interesting characteristics, such as osseointegration, biocompatibility, radiolucency, and high mechanical strength.

Results

We report the first case of sternal replacement surgery involving the implantation of a ceramic prosthesis after radio-induced sternal sarcoma. In 2005, a 54-year-old woman was diagnosed with local breast cancer for which she underwent all appropriate treatment. Ten years later, she developed radio-induced sarcoma of the sternum. A complete sternal replacement was performed on 24 April 2015, with no postoperative complications. Imaging by ¹⁸F-flurodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography-computed tomography performed 26 months after the surgery showed no local recurrence. The patient seems to have fully recovered and has resumed normal activity.

Conclusions

This new technique is promising. For the first time, we highlight the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of sternal replacement using a porous alumina ceramic prosthesis.

Sternal resection and reconstruction for local recurrence of breast cancer using the sternal allograft transplantation technique

Sternal involvement in patients with breast cancer is relatively rare and its treatment is still controversial. Surgery is usually indicated in cases of single metastases in a multimodality protocol. Partial or complete sternectomy associated or not with the resection of surrounding tissues is the technique of choice to obtain safety margins and radical treatment of the disease. The most challenging part of the operation is the reconstruction of the anterior chest wall in order to avoid secondary complications and respiratory failure. In the last few years, different techniques and materials have been used to reconstruct the sternum. We report our experience in two patients with recurrent breast cancer using the sternal allograft technique to replace the sternum after partial sternectomy. The use of a sternal-allograft provides excellent functional and cosmetic results without complications during the follow-up period. The implantation technique is simple and reproducible.

Giant sternal metastasis secondary to follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland: report of a case

A 70-year-old woman was admitted to our department for investigation and treatment of a progressively enlarging multinodular goiter and a fast growing mass infiltrating the sternum. The patient was euthyroid, but computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography showed a mass in the anterior mediastinum infiltrating the sternum, with a dominant nodule in the right lobe of the thyroid. Fine needle aspiration biopsy results from both the cervical and the mediastinal masses were suggestive of follicular thyroid carcinoma. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy, thymectomy, and total removal of the mass, along with parts of the sternum, sternocleidomastoid muscle, and attached ribs. The thoracic wall was reconstructed with gortex dual mesh covered by muscle flaps from both pectoralis major muscles. Pathological analysis of both masses confirmed the fine needle aspiration findings and the patient received three cycles of radioactive iodine treatment. She had an uneventful postoperative course, but died of a stroke 8 years later.

Sternum resection and reconstruction for metastatic renal cell cancer

A 62-year-old male with bilateral renal cell carcinomas underwent bilateral nephrectomies. Following which he continued hemodialysis. He was admitted to our hospital with a small sternal mass present for 10 months. The operation consisted of sternectomy with right 4th costal cartilage resection and sternal reconstruction with Prolene mesh and methylmethacrylate. Postoperative course was uneventful and his respirations were normal without paradoxical movement of the thorax or hypoxemia. He is currently well and being followed up as an out patient.