Surgical treatment of primary malignant chest wall tumours

Evaluating the Role of Surgical Resection and Reconstruction in the Management of Ewing sarcoma of the Chest Wall in the Paediatric Population: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Ewing sarcoma is the most common malignant chest wall tumour in the paediatric population. Following neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens, the role and extent of surgical resection and reconstruction of the chest wall remain unclear.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines across four major literature databases. Data regarding overall survival, rate of recurrence, role of surgery and adjuvant therapy role was extracted.

RESULTS

Three thousand ninety-one studies were initially identified via the search, with 25 single-centre observational studies (458 patients) and 10 retrospective reviews of multicentre trials (961 patients) included in the final analysis. Five-year overall survival ranged from 35% to 90%.

DISCUSSION

Along with chemotherapy, local control with surgical resection provides the cornerstone of the management of Ewing sarcoma of the chest wall in children. The literature favours delaying surgery until after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and there appear to be limited benefits to extensive resection according to pre-chemotherapy margins, advocated for in current guidelines. Radiotherapy is no longer advocated for all patients, but rather should be guided by surgical margins and the histological response to chemotherapy in the resected specimens. Surgical reconstructive techniques need to be tailored for the growth potential of these paediatric patients to avoid long-term sequalae, including scoliosis and pulmonary restrictive disease.

Surgical Outcomes after Full Thickness Chest Wall Resection Followed by Immediate Reconstruction: A 7-Year Observational Study of 42 Cases

Introduction

Reconstruction of full thickness chest wall defects is challenging and is associated with a considerable risk of complications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the surgical outcomes and their associations with patient and treatment characteristics following full thickness chest wall reconstruction.

Patients and methods

A retrospective observational study was performed by including patients who underwent reconstruction of full thickness chest wall defect at the Erasmus MC between January 2014 and December 2020. The type of reconstruction was categorized into skeletal and soft tissue reconstructions. For skeletal reconstruction, only non-rigid prosthetic materials were used. Patient and surgical characteristics were retrieved and analyzed for associations with postoperative complications.

Results

Thirty-two women and 10 men with a mean age of 60 years were included. In 26 patients (61.9%), the reconstruction was performed using prosthetic material and a soft tissue flap, in nine cases (21.4%) only a soft tissue flap was used, and in seven other patients (16.7%) only the prosthetic material was used. Pedicled musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi flaps were used most often (n=17), followed by pectoralis major flaps (n=8) and free flaps (n=8). Twenty-two patients (52.4%) developed at least one postoperative complication. Wounds (21.4%) and pulmonary (19.0%) complications occurred most frequently. Five (11.9%) patients required reoperation. There were no associations between patient and treatment characteristics and the occurrence of major complications. There was no mortality.

Conclusions

Reconstruction of full thickness chest wall defects using only non-rigid prosthetic material for skeletal reconstruction appears safe with an acceptable reoperation rate and low mortality, questioning the need for rigid fixation techniques.

[Surgical treatment of extensive metastatic tumor of the left ribs III-V and lung in 13 years after resection of cylindroma of the soft palate]

Metastatic chest lesion is rare in patients with soft palate tumors. We present a 52-year-old patient with metastatic lesion of the left ribs III-V and lung in 13 years after resection of cylindroma of the soft palate. The patient underwent successful chest reconstruction and atypical resection of the left lung. Isolation of the pleural cavity by xenopericardial patches and preoperative 3D CT modeled titanium implants meet all the requirements for maintaining the chest function. This approach also positively affects postoperative period and recovery. The above-described method of replacing chest defects is highly effective.

Primary Chondrosarcoma of the Right Fourth Rib Resected at the Marginal Margin: A Case Report

Primary chondrosarcoma of the ribs is relatively rare, and its basic treatment is surgical resection. In cases with positive resection margins, additional resection is considered, but its indications are unclear. However, reported cases with positive resection margins have been limited. We report a 71-year-old man whose medical checkup revealed an abnormal shadow in the chest. The findings from chest computed tomography, axial T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and contrast-enhanced MRI led to a diagnosis of chondrosarcoma of the right fourth rib, and surgical resection was performed. The chest wall defect was reconstructed with a Marlex mesh. Postoperative histopathologic diagnosis was grade 2 chondrosarcoma. Gross resection margins, which were marginal, were negative, and the resection margin was grade 1. The patient was followed up without adjuvant therapy and did not undergo additional surgery. For chondrosarcomas with negative gross margins but a marginal margin, additional resection should be considered depending on the histologic grade of the margins. In cases with extensive resection of the chest wall, it is useful to reconstruct the chest wall while paying careful attention to infection control.

Interdisciplinary Treatment of Malignant Chest Wall Tumors

BACKGROUND

Chest wall resections for malignant chest wall tumors (MCWTs), particularly those with full-thickness chest wall involvement requiring reconstruction, present a therapeutic challenge for thoracic and plastic reconstructive surgeons. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with chest wall resection for primary and metastatic MCWTs, with a focus on perioperative outcomes and postoperative overall survival (OS).

METHODS

All patients who underwent surgical resection for primary and secondary MCWTs at our single institution between 2000 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 42 patients (25 male, median age 60 years) operated upon with curative (n = 37, 88.1%) or palliative (n = 5, 11.9%) intent were reviewed. Some 33 (78%) MCWTs were of secondary origin. Chest wall reconstruction was required in 40 (95%) cases. A total of 13 (31%) patients had postoperative complications and one (2.3%) died perioperatively. The 5-year postoperative overall survival rate was 51.9%. The postoperative 5-year survival rate of 42.6% in patients with secondary MCWTs was significantly lower compared to the figure of 87.5% in patients with primary MCWTs.

CONCLUSIONS

In well-selected patients, chest wall resections for primary and secondary MCWTs are feasible and associated with good perioperative outcomes. For secondary MCWTs, surgery can also be performed with palliative intent.

Multiple local recurrences of primary sternal chondrosarcoma: tumor manipulation or self-seeding

BACKGROUND

Primary sternal chondrosarcoma, although rare, is the most common malignant tumor of the sternum. The gold standard treatment is complete surgical excision, which frequently causes the instability of the thorax necessitating future reconstruction. Local recurrence is common increasing the risk of distant metastasis.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 60-year-old male patient was diagnosed with primary sternum chondrosarcoma and underwent surgical excision with negative resection margins. Later, he was found to have two local recurrences at 11 months and 37 months post initial excision. The two recurrences were surgically removed followed by local adjuvant radiation.

CONCLUSION

The seeding theories have been reported more frequently with relation to diagnostic biopsy procedures, tumor manipulation and self-seeding tumors. The patient developed two local recurrences despite total resection with negative margins, without concerns regarding seeding in distant metastasis.

Expert consensus on resection of chest wall tumors and chest wall reconstruction

Chest wall tumors are a relatively uncommon disease in clinical practice. Most of the published studies about chest wall tumors are usually single-center retrospective studies, involving few patients. Therefore, evidences regarding clinical conclusions about chest wall tumors are lacking, and some controversial issues have still to be agreed upon. In January 2019, 73 experts in thoracic surgery, plastic surgery, science, and engineering jointly released the Chinese Expert Consensus on Chest Wall Tumor Resection and Chest Wall Reconstruction (2018 edition). After that, numerous experts put forward new perspectives on some academic issues in this version of the consensus, pointing out the necessity to further discuss the points of contention. Thus, we conducted a survey through the administration of a questionnaire among 85 experts in the world. Consensus has been reached on some major points as follows. (I) Wide excision should be performed for desmoid tumor (DT) of chest wall. After excluding the distant metastasis by multi-disciplinary team, solitary sternal plasmacytoma can be treated with extensive resection and adjuvant radiotherapy. (II) Wide excision with above 2 cm margin distance should be attempted to obtain R0 resection margin for chest wall tumor unless the tumor involves vital organs or structures, including the great vessels, heart, trachea, joints, and spine. (III) For patients with chest wall tumors undergoing unplanned excision (UE) for the first time, it is necessary to carry out wide excision as soon as possible within 1–3 months following the previous surgery. (IV) Current Tumor Node Metastasis staging criteria (American Joint Committee on Cancer) of bone tumor and soft tissue sarcoma are not suitable for chest wall sarcomas. (V) It is necessary to use rigid implants for chest wall reconstruction once the maximum diameter of the chest wall defect exceeds 5 cm in adults and adolescents. (VI) For non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) invading the chest wall, wide excision with neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapy are recommended for patients with stage T_3-4N_0-1M₀. As clear guidelines are lacking, these consensus statements on controversial issues on chest wall tumors and resection could possibly serve as further guidance in clinical practice during the upcoming years.

Functional and Oncological Outcomes of Multidisciplinary Management of Ewing's Sarcoma of Clavicle: A Single-Center Experience

Objectives Ewing's sarcoma is best treated using a multidisciplinary approach. We discuss the functional and oncological outcomes of clavicular Ewing's sarcoma which has been sparsely reported in literature. Materials and Methods We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent resections for Ewing's sarcoma of clavicle from January 2002 to December 2017. The study end points were locoregional recurrence free survival (LRFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) at 3 and 5 years, and functional outcomes measured by Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scores. Statistical Analysis The LRFS, DFS, and OS were calculated and analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Results Data of 21 patients (male: 12, female: 9) was analyzed with a mean age [range] of 15.3 [6-40] years. Total clavicle excision was done in 62% (13 of 21) while 38% ( n = 8) had partial resections. Radiotherapy was administered in 15 patients (71.5%). At a median follow-up of 42 months (range: 7-198), data of 20 patients was available for follow-up. Ten patients died (due to disease: nine, other reasons: One), eight are disease free and alive, one had metastasectomy on recurrence and is disease free and, one patient is alive with disease and on palliative chemotherapy. The LRFS, DFS, and OS were 95, 59, 65% and 95, 47, 59% at 3 and 5 years, respectively. The functional evaluation done for nine patients who are free of disease showed a mean MSTS score of 29 (range: 27-30; total clavicle excision: 28.5, partial clavicle excision: 29.5). Conclusion Patients with Ewing's sarcoma of the clavicle who underwent resection without reconstruction have acceptable local control rates and excellent functional outcomes.

Benign rib tumors: a case series from tertiary care Centre of Nepal and review of literature

Rib tumors are rare. They can present with wide varieties of symptoms and differentiating benign from malignant lesions is challenging. A careful history and supporting investigations can help to reach the definite diagnosis. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice with excellent prognosis. A total of four patients were operated for the management of rib tumors over a period of 5 years at our institution. All four were benign lesions and included simple bone cyst, fibrous dysplasia with aneurysmal bone cyst, aneurysmal bone cyst and enchondroma. There were three male and one female. None of them is having recurrence till now. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for benign rib tumors as it provides diagnostic and curative treatment.

Bilateral Anterolateral Thigh Myocutaneous Flaps for Giant Complex Chest Wall Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Extensive reconstruction of complex full-thickness chest wall oncological defects is challenging. Bilateral free anterolateral thigh (ALT) myocutaneous flap transfer for the complex reconstruction of a large area of the chest wall is discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reported a single unit's experience in 1-staged multilayered reconstruction of large full-thickness chest wall defects in 22 patients (16 primary chest wall tumor cases, 5 locally advanced breast cancer cases, and 1 osteoradionecrosis case) treated between 2011 and 2018. Bilateral ALT myocutaneous flaps together with traditional cement implant or unmovable/movable joint conformable titanium struts were used for chest wall reconstruction. The anatomical characteristics of pedicle origin and pattern of the venae comitantes of the ALT myocutaneous flap, recipient vessels, and anastomosis patterns were described.

RESULTS

Bilateral ALT myocutaneous flaps were used for soft tissue reconstruction in 22 cases. Different methods of flap harvesting and vascular anastomosis were selected as needed. No vein grafts or arteriovenous loops were required. We observed 3 vascular patterns of the flap pedicle, including 1 oblique branch and descending branch (59.1%, n = 26), 2 single descending branch (9.1%, n = 4), and 3 double branches of the descending branch (31.8%, n = 14). The flap was harvested pedicled with solely the oblique branch in 7 (15.9%) cases, solely the descending branch in 28 (63.6%) cases to minimize the donor site morbidity, and pedicled with the oblique and descending branch in 9 (20.5%) cases to achieve multiple vascular anastomosis choices. Stable skeletal reconstructions were achieved using traditional cement implant (13.6%, n = 3) or conformable titanium struts (86.4%, n = 19), with good fixation strength. Complication risk was low. An algorithmic approach to management is presented and recommended.

CONCLUSION

Various forms of bilateral ALT myocutaneous flap transfer with different skeletal reconstruction presents as a reliable treatment for patients with large full-thickness chest wall defects. Anatomical variations in the pedicle and pattern of venae comitantes of the ALT myocutaneous flap are reported. In some challenging cases, finding the vessels in the recipient area is difficult. The clinical significance of each vascular pattern is delineated, and surgical technical considerations are discussed on the basis of the recipient area requirements and types of a flap's vascular anatomy.

A South American Experience With Postoperative Complications Following Chest Wall Reconstruction for Neoplasms

BACKGROUND

This study aims to report postoperative complications of chest wall reconstructions due to resections of primary or secondary neoplasms in a South American cancer institution and their association with prosthesis reconstruction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of patients with primary or secondary chest wall neoplasms who underwent resection and reconstruction between November 2008 and October 2018 at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogota, Colombia.

RESULTS

A total of 77 patients were analyzed, 50 were women (64.9%), and the median age was 45.8 years. There were 22(28.6%) sternal resections and 55(71.4%) costal resections. Prosthetic material was used in 14(18.2%) sternal and 37(48.1%) costal reconstructions. There were 26(33.7%) early postoperative complications and 16(20.8%) reinterventions. Infections were observed in 12(15.6%) patients and 4(5.2%) patients developed respiratory complications. 33.3% of all the early infections were presented in patients with methyl methacrylate (MMA) reconstructions and the same percentage in those with titanium plates. There were six (7.8%) late complications and five were related to prosthetic material extrusion, all required prosthetic material removal. The mean overall survival was 77,3 months (SD = 8 months), and 1-year and 5-year overall survival was 85% and 61%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Infections were the more frequent postoperative complications in chest wall reconstructions. The use of either MMA or titanium plates was not related to early postoperative complications, although MMA reconstructions developed higher late complications and required prosthetic material removal.

The accuracy and dosimetric analysis of 3D-printing non-coplanar template-assisted iodine-125 seed implantation for recurrent chest wall cancer

Purpose

To investigate the accuracy and dosimetry of 3D-printing non-coplanar template (3D-PNCT)-assisted computed tomography (CT)-guided iodine-125 seed implantation (¹²⁵I-SI) for recurrent chest wall cancer (rCWC).

Material and methods

This was a retrospective study of 19 patients with 22 rCWC treated with 3D-PNCT-assisted CT-guided ¹²⁵I-SI, from Mar 2017 to Mar 2020 in our institute.

Results

Mean needle entrance deviation was 4.50 ±2.70 mm, mean angular deviation was 3.40 ±3.10 degrees, and mean depth deviation was 5.20 ±5.20 mm. No significant difference was found for dosimetric parameters (except conformity index) between pre-plan and post-plan; D₉₀, D₁₀₀, V₁₀₀, V₁₅₀, and V₂₀₀ were 157.74 ±24.23 and 151.71 ±33.62 (p = 0.228), 85.36 ±34.09 and 70.46 ±23.48 (p = 0.067), 0.93 ±0.04 and 0.90 ±0.07 (p = 0.068), 0.64 ±0.16 and 0.64 ±0.16 (p = 0.984), and 0.35 ±0.17 and 0.37 ±0.18 (p = 0.382) for pre-plan and post-plan, respectively. Conformity index, external index, and homogeneity index were 0.57 ±0.16 and 0.52 ±0.15 (p = 0.007), 0.73 ±0.55 and 0.79 ±0.53 (p = 0.096), and 0.31 ±0.15 and 0.30 ±0.14 (p = 0.504) for pre-plan and post-plan, respectively. Median follow-up time was 8 months (range, 3-30 months). Complete response was observed in 4/22 (18.1%), partial response in 13/22 (59.1%), stable disease in 4/22 (18.1%), and progression disease in 1/22 (4.5%) of the cancers. Among patients with pain before ¹²⁵I-SI, pain relief rate was 87.5% (7/8). No peri-operative complications of more than grade 2 were observed.

Conclusions

3D-PNCT-assisted CT-guided ¹²⁵I-SI may be safe and feasible as palliative therapy for non-surgical candidates and painful patients with rCWC.

Chondrosarcoma of the Ribs

Chondrosarcoma is a unique kind of tumor that originates from the cartilage-producing neoplastic mesenchymal cells and appears in both the appendicular and atlantoaxial skeleton. It is the second most prevalent neoplastic bone tumor, with an occurrence of 0.79/100,000/year. The biological presentation of this cancer fluctuates extensively, depending on the grade and anatomical location. Since chondrosarcoma is predominantly resistant to conventional chemo- and radiation therapy, surgical resection remains the sole curative treatment, although at present new treatment modalities are under investigation.

Overall survival and tumor recurrence after surgical resection for primary malignant chest wall tumors: a single-center, single-surgeon experience

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Malignant primary chest wall tumors (PCWTs) comprise a rare group of thoracic tumors with unique anatomical considerations, and experience with wide surgical resection is limited to specialty referral centers and specific diagnoses. We investigated the tumor recurrence and overall survival (OS) for patients with a variety of PCWTs diagnoses at our institution.

METHODS

From 1991 to 2010, patients with malignant PCWT undergoing wide surgical resection for curative intent under a single surgeon were reviewed. Diagnosis and grade (if applicable) of surgical pathology, along with patient demographics, neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and outcomes (complications, recurrence, and OS) at follow-up were analyzed.

RESULTS

One hundred fifteen patients were included in the study. The most common tumor diagnoses included pleomorphic sarcoma and liposarcoma. Negative margins were achieved in 70 (74%) of cases. Postoperative complications were reported in 21 (20%) cases. The 5-year survival rate was 54%, while the 10-year survival rate was 29%. The local and distant recurrence rates were 50% and 38%, respectively. OS was significantly less in patients with any recurrence ( p < 0.001) but not significantly different between pathology grades ( p = 0.28).

CONCLUSIONS

Wide resection for malignant PCWT is feasible when undertaken for a heterogenous group of diagnoses.

Reconstruction of massive chest wall defects: A 20-year experience

BACKGROUND

Large chest wall resections can result in paradoxical chest wall movement leading to prolonged ventilator dependence and major respiratory impairment. The purpose of this study was to determine as to which factors are predictive or protective of complications in massive oncologic chest wall defect reconstructions.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of consecutive patients who underwent immediate reconstruction of massive thoracic oncologic defects (≥5 ribs) was performed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified risk factors.

RESULTS

We identified 59 patients (median age, 53 years) with a mean follow-up of 36 months. Rib resections ranged from 5 to 10 ribs (defect area, 80-690 cm²). Sixty-two percent of the patients developed at least one postoperative complication. Superior/middle resections were associated with increased risk of general and pulmonary complications (71.4% vs. 35.3%; OR 4.54; p = 0.013). The 90-day mortality rate following massive chest wall resection and reconstruction was 8.5%. Two factors that were significantly associated with shorter overall survival time were preoperative XRT and preoperative chemotherapy (p = 0.021 and p < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with massive oncological thoracic defects have a high rate of reconstructive complications, particularly pulmonary, leading to prolonged ventilator dependence. Superior resections were more likely to be associated with increased pulmonary and overall complications. The length of postoperative recovery was significantly associated with the size of the defect, and larger defects had prolonged hospital stays. Because of the large dimensions of chest wall defects, almost half of the cases required flap coverage to allow for appropriate defect closure. Understanding the unique demands of these rare but challenging cases is critically important in predicting patient outcomes.

11-year experience with Chest Wall resection and reconstruction for primary Chest Wall sarcomas

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Primary chest wall sarcomas are rare and therapeutically challenging tumors. Herein we report the outcomes of a surgery-based multimodality therapy for these pathologies over an 11-year period. In addition, we present a case that illustrates the surgical challenges that extensive chest wall resection may pose.

METHODS

Using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons general thoracic surgery database, we have prospectively collected data in our institute on all patients undergoing chest wall resection and reconstruction for primary chest wall sarcomas between June 2008-October 2019.

RESULTS

We performed 28 surgical procedures on 25 patients aged 5 to 91 years (median age 33). Eleven tumors were bone- and cartilage-derived and 14 tumors originated from soft tissue elements. Seven patients (7/25, 28%) received neo-adjuvant therapy and 14 patients (14/25, 56%) received adjuvant therapy. The median number of ribs that were resected was 2.5 (range 0 to 6). In 18/28 (64%) of surgeries, additional skeletal or visceral organs were removed, including: diaphragm [1], scapula [2], sternum [2], lung [2], vertebra [1], clavicle [1] and colon [1]. Chest wall reconstruction was deemed necessary in 16/28 (57%) of cases, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Gore-Tex patches was used in 13/28 (46%) of cases and biological flaps where used in 4/28 (14%) of cases. R0, R1 and R2 resection margins were achieved in 19/28 (68%), 9/28 (32%) and 0/28 (0%) of cases, respectively. The median follow up time was 33 months (range 2 to 138). During the study period, disease recurred in 8/25 (32%) of patients. Of these, 3 were re-operated on and are free of disease. At date of last follow up, 5/25 (20%) of patients have died due to their disease and in contrast, 20/25 (80%) were alive with no evidence of disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery-based multimodality therapy is an effective treatment approach for primary chest wall sarcomas. Resection of additional skeletal or visceral organs and reconstruction with synthetic and/or biological flaps is often required in order to obtain R0 resection margins. Ultimately, long-term survival in this clinical scenario is an achievable goal.

Primary Chest Wall Sarcoma: Surgical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors

Background

Primary chest wall sarcoma is a rare disease with limited reports of surgical resection.

Methods

This retrospective review included 41 patients with primary chest wall sarcoma who underwent chest wall resection and reconstruction from 2001 to 2015. The clinical, histologic, and surgical variables were collected and analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS).

Results

The OS rates at 5 and 10 years were 73% and 61%, respectively. The RFS rate at 10 years was 57.1%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed old age (hazard ratio [HR], 5.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71–15.48) as a significant risk factor for death. A surgical resection margin distance of less than 1.5 cm (HR, 15.759; 95% CI, 1.78–139.46) and histologic grade III (HR, 28.36; 95% CI, 2.76–290.87) were independent risk factors for recurrence.

Conclusion

Long-term OS and RFS after the surgical resection of primary chest wall sarcoma were clinically acceptable.

Costal chondrosarcoma mimicking a breast cancer: Case report and review of literature

•

The localization of chondrosarcoma in the rib is rare.

•

Prognostic of chondrosarcoma is relatively good.

•

Generally, chondrosarcoma is radio- resistant and chemo-resistant.

•

The cornerstone and the only curative option for CS was en-bloc resection with appropriate margins.

Introduction

Chondrosarcoma (CS) was the third most common primary bone malignancy. Frequently chondrosarcoma was occurring in long bones or in the pelvis. Their localization in the rib is rare.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old male presented to our institution with a lump in the left breast. A physical exam revealed a large, fixed 10 cm mass occupied the entire right breast. Clinical presentation had supposed initially as a sarcoma of the breast. Preoperative unenhanced CT imaging showed well-defined round heterogeneous soft tissue density with hypo dense areas.

A core-needle biopsy was taken, which was suggestive of chondrosarcoma grade II. The whole tumor was excised en-bloc along with 4th, 5th and 6th ribs. Reconstruction of the defect was undertaken with polypropylene plate and ipsilateral pedicle latissimus dorsi muscle flap was placed on the alloplastic mesh. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged on the 10th postoperative day. No adjuvant treatment was administrated.

Conclusion

En-bloc resection with appropriate margins and thanks to the evolution of reconstructive surgical techniques used to ensure preservation of respiratory mechanics. All this procedure represents the cornerstone and the only curative option.

Predictors of survival after resection of primary sarcomas of the chest wall-A large, single-institution series

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Chest wall sarcomas are rare and may demonstrate heterogeneous features. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy used as adjuncts. Herein, we report outcomes of a large cohort of patients with primary chest wall sarcoma who underwent resection.

METHODS

Records of 121 patients who underwent resection for primary chest wall sarcoma between 1998 and 2013 were reviewed. A thoracic pathologist reexamined all tumors and categorized them according to grade. Univariable and multivariable Cox analyses were conducted to identify predictors of overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The median age was 45.0 (range, 11-81) years, and most tumors (63.6%, 77) were high grade. The median tumor size was 7 cm (range, 1-21 cm). Fifty-nine (48.8%) patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 12 (9.9%) received neoadjuvant radiotherapy. A complete resection was achieved in 103 (85.1%) patients. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.532) and radiation ( P = 1.000) were not associated with a complete resection. Five-year OS among patients undergoing R0 and R1 resections was 61.9% and 27.8%, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified high grade (HR, 15.21; CI, 3.57-64.87; P < 0.001), R1 (HR, 3.10; CI, 1.40-6.86; P = 0.005), R2 resection (HR, 5.18; CI, 1.91-14.01; P = 0.001), and age (HR, 1.02; CI, 1.01-1.03; P = 0.002) as predictors of OS.

CONCLUSIONS

In this series of resected chest wall sarcomas, complete resection and tumor grade remain the most important survival predictors. Individual decisions are required for the utilization of neoadjuvant therapy.

Contributing factors to the outcome of primary malignant chest wall tumors

Background

Primary malignant chest-wall tumors (PMCWTs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors. They require a special experience in designing resection and reconstruction. They account for less than 1% of all primary malignant tumors. This study is designed to clarify different factors contributing to the outcome of patients with PMCWTs in our institution.

Methods

A retrospective study included 98 patients with pathology proven PMCWTs, treated at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, Egypt, during the past 10 years. Used variables were: age, sex, forced expiratory volume in the 1^st second (FEV1), site, size, multiplicity, pathologic subtype, tumor grade, safety margin (SM), excised ribs, complications, estimated blood loss (EBL), neo-adjuvant and adjuvant treatments, Overall and disease free survival (DFS) were obtained using Kaplan-Meier method and compared using Log rank test. Cox regression was used to identify DFS predictors.

Results

PMCWTs represented 10.5% of all thoracic malignancies in our institution. There were 51 females (52%). The median age was 39 years [interquartile range (IQR) =25-52.3)] years. Chondrosarcoma was the commonest tumor histology (20.4%). The median tumor size was 8 cm (IQR =5-14). Tumor multiplicity was found in 18.4% of patients. Bone resection was performed in 76 patients (78.3%), ribs resection was performed in 59 patients and the median number of resected ribs per patient was 3 (IQR =1-3) ribs. Sternal resection was done in 7 (7.1%) cases. R0 resection was achieved in 62.2% of patients. There was one operative related mortality (1.02%) and 17.3% patients suffered procedure related complications. Local recurrence developed in 35 (35.7%) patients. The overall survival (OS) at 1, 3 and 5 years was 73.9%, 45.6% and 34.6% respectively and the median OS was 33 months (95% CI, 21.8-44.2), while median DFS was 24 months (95% CI, 19.6-28.4). Predictors of better DFS were -ve SM (P<0.001), tumors <5 cm (P=0.039), low grade (P=0.033), lower EBL (P=0.003) and absence of adjuvant therapy (P=0.007); however, on multivariate analysis, only -ve SM was the only predictor (HR =0.54; 95% CI, 0.29-0.97, P=0.041).

Conclusions

In primary malignant CWTs (PMCWTs) achievement of wide resection margins is of great importance to minimize the local tumor recurrence that will have an adverse impact on long-term survival.

Outcome of resectable pediatric Ewing sarcoma of the ribs

PURPOSE

Was to evaluate the outcome of multimodality treatment in resectable primary Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor ES/PNET of the ribs and role of thoracoscopy in facilitating resection of these tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study including 22 patients with primary ES/PNET of the ribs surgically treated at Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE) between January 2008 until the end of December 2014.

RESULTS

Median age was 8.5years (range 5months to 16years.). All patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Thoracoscopic exploration was performed in 15 (68%) patients. Resection included 1,2,3 and 4 ribs in (7,4,8 and 3 patients) respectively, parts of the diaphragm (3 patients), wedge resection of the lung (10 patients) and pleural nodules (2 patients). Primary closure was feasible in 11 patients and rib transposition was done in one patient. Reconstruction by proline mesh covered by muscle flap was done in 10 patients. Margins were microscopically positive in 3 patients and close in 2 patients. Postoperative radiotherapy was given in 8 patients. With a median follow-up of 38.5months, the 3-year event -free survival (EFS) and overall survival(OS) rates were 31.6% and 55.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Multimodality treatment is essential in the management of ES-PNET of the ribs. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy facilitates adequate resection. The role of thoracoscopy and the indications of postoperative radiotherapy need further evaluation.

Outcomes of chest wall resections in pediatric sarcoma patients

PURPOSE

Chest wall tumors in pediatric patients are rare. This study evaluates outcomes in pediatric patients who have undergone chest wall resections secondary to sarcomas.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed for patients <19years old who underwent chest wall resections for sarcoma 1999-2014 at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

RESULTS

Of 44 patients, Ewing's sarcoma (n=18) and osteosarcoma (n=16) were most common. Other sarcomas included synovial sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. Gore-Tex® or a Marlex™ mesh and methyl methacrylate sandwich was used in 22 patients, and 9 children did not require reconstruction. Twenty-four (54.5%) patients had normal activity, 3 (6.8%) had occasional discomfort, 2 (4.5%) had pain impairing function, 7 (15.9%) required medication or physical therapy for impairment, and 8 (18.2%) needed additional surgery. Five children (11.4%) developed scoliosis, and all of these patients had posterior rib tumors. Median overall survival for the entire cohort was 41.9±11.82months. Histology (p=0.003), location of tumor on the ribs (p=0.007), and surgical margins (p=0.011) were significantly associated with overall survival. Tumors on the middle and posterior (p=0.003) portions of the ribs had a lower chance of death.

CONCLUSION

Scoliosis is more common in posterior rib resections. Histology, location of the tumor, and surgical margins impact survival, but, type of reconstruction does not.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

TYPE OF STUDY

Treatment Study.

Mini review: surgical management of primary chest wall tumors

Primary chest wall tumors (PCWTs) are relatively rare entities, and their clinical characteristics as well as appropriate treatments are not fully known. Previously reported studies, including ours, are reviewed here, taking into account the clinical approach and findings in Japan for the diagnosis, distribution of histological types, surgical procedures, and prognosis of these entities. Surgery for PCWTs comprised that approximately 0.7 % of surgeries in 2012 in Japan and 28.3 % of PCWTs were malignant with an extremely low rate of mortality within 30 days from surgery. Surgical biopsy is recommended for the differential diagnosis of chest wall tumors to determine if they are primary, metastatic, benign, or malignant lesions. Of the 297 PCWT cases reported in nine published studies, neurogenic tumors were the most common benign PCWT, and chondrosarcoma was the most common malignant PCWT. Reconstruction of the resected chest wall was performed for 41.3 % of cases, and the materials used were e-PTFE or polypropylene. The prognosis of patients with benign tumors is usually good if complete resection is achieved; however, the 5-year recurrence rate and disease-related mortality were approximately 22.5 and 18.1 %, respectively, for patients with malignant tumors. Surgery for PCWTs is safe; however, surgical treatment for patients with malignant PCWTs remains challenging, and multimodal treatments for each histological tumor type should be considered.

Oncologic reconstruction: General principles and techniques

Halsted's principle of radical mastectomy influenced cancer treatment for decades. Randomized controlled trials resulted in a paradigm shift to less radical surgery and the use of adjuvant therapies. Oncologic reconstruction performed by plastic surgeons has evolved, ranging from skin grafts and local flaps for smaller defects to pedicled flaps and free flaps for larger and more complex defects. Immediate reconstruction facilitates resection is oncologically safe and contributes to meaningful improvements in quality of life. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:852-864. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Prognosis of Primary and Recurrent Chondrosarcoma of the Rib

BACKGROUND

Chondrosarcoma of the rib is a rare disease. Although surgery is the only curative treatment option, rib resection with an adequate margin can be challenging and local recurrence is a frequent problem. In this study, the prognosis of primary and recurrent chondrosarcoma of the rib is reported.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis was performed of patients treated for chondrosarcoma of the rib between 1984 and 2014 in three major tertiary referral centers in The Netherlands. Clinical and histopathological features were analyzed for their prognostic value using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard analysis. Endpoints were set at local recurrent disease, metastasis rate, or death.

RESULTS

Overall, 76 patients underwent a resection for a primary chondrosarcoma, and 26 patients underwent a resection for a recurrent chondrosarcoma. Five-year overall survival in the primary group was 90%, local recurrence rate was 17%, and metastasis rate was 12%. The 5-year outcome after recurrent chondrosarcoma was lower, with an overall survival of 65%, local recurrence rate of 27%, and metastasis rate of 27%. For primary chondrosarcoma, tumor size >5 cm and a positive resection margin were correlated with worse overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) 3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-10.44; HR 2.92, 95% CI 1.03-8.25). A higher histological grade was correlated with a higher local recurrence and metastasis rate (HR 5.92, 95% CI 1.11-31.65; HR 6.96, 95% CI 1.15-42.60).

CONCLUSION

Surgical resection of both primary and recurrent chondrosarcoma of the rib is an effective treatment strategy. The oncological outcome after surgery is worse in tumors >5 cm, in tumors with positive resection margins and grade 3 chondrosarcoma.

Chondrosarcoma of a rib

Chondrosarcoma of a rib is a very rare malignant tumor of the bone. Most patients were present with an enlarging painful anterior chest wall tumor. We present a case of an asymptomatic 29-years old female with a tumor size of 10 cm × 12 cm on the left anterior chest wall involving the 8th rib. CT scan with intravenous contrast is the gold standard for radiological imaging and planning for surgery. Since chondrosarcoma is less sensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, surgical treatment with extensive resection with a sufficient margin is considered first line treatment.

Long-term treatment results in soft tissue sarcomas of the thoracic wall treated with pre-or-postoperative radiotherapy--a single institution experience

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long term results among patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the thoracic wall.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-six patients who were treated with pre-or postoperative radiotherapy between December 1980-December 2007, with a diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma of the thoracic wall were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

The median age was 44 years (14-85 years) and 15 of them were male. A total of 50% of patients were grade 3. The most common histologic type of tumor was undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (26.9%). Tumor size varied between 2-25 cm (median 6.5 cm). Seventeen of the cases had marginal and 9 had wide local resection. Four cases received preoperative radiotherapy and 22 postoperative radiotherapy. Six of the patients with large and high grade tumors received chemotherapy. Median follow-up time was 82 months (9-309 months). Local recurrence and metastasis was detected in 34.6% and 42.3% of patients, respectively. Five- year local control (LC), disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) were 62%, 38%, 69%, and 76% respectively. On univariate analysis, the patients with positive surgical margins had a markedly lower 5-year LC rate than patients with negative surgical margin, but the difference was not significant (43% vs 78%, p=0.1). Five-year DFS (66% vs 17%) and DSS (92% vs 60%) rates were significantly worse for the patients who had high grade tumors (p=0.01, p=0.008 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor grade and surgical margin are essential parameters for determining the prognosis of thoracic wall soft tissue sarcoma both in our series and the literature.

Unusual case of chondroblastic osteosarcoma of the rib in an adult

Primary osteosarcoma arising from the ribs is very rare. An unusual case of a primary chondroblastic osteosarcoma of the rib in a 30-year-old woman is described here. The patient underwent wide excision of the tumor along with the involved rib, followed by chemotherapy. Although clinically unsuspected in this unusual site, pathology confirmed a completely resected chondroblastic osteosarcoma.

Multimodality imaging of cardiothoracic lymphoma

Lymphoma is the most common hematologic malignancy and represents approximately 5.3% of all cancers. The World Health Organization published a revised classification scheme in 2008 that groups lymphomas by cell type and molecular, cytogenetic, and phenotypic characteristics. Most lymphomas affect the thorax at some stage during the course of the disease. Affected structures within the chest may include the lungs, mediastinum, pleura, and chest wall, and lymphomas may originate from these sites as primary malignancies or secondarily involve these structures after arising from other intrathoracic or extrathoracic sources. Pulmonary lymphomas are classified into one of four types: primary pulmonary lymphoma, secondary pulmonary lymphoma, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related lymphoma, and post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders. Although pulmonary lymphomas may produce a myriad of diverse findings within the lungs, specific individual features or combinations of features can be used, in combination with secondary manifestations of the disease such as involvement of the mediastinum, pleura, and chest wall, to narrow the differential diagnosis. While findings of thoracic lymphoma may be evident on chest radiography, computed tomography has traditionally been the imaging modality used to evaluate the disease and effectively demonstrates the extent of intrathoracic involvement and the presence and extent of extrathoracic spread. However, additional modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging of the thorax and (18)F-FDG PET/CT have emerged in recent years and are complementary to CT in the evaluation of patients with lymphoma. Thoracic MRI is useful in assessing vascular, cardiac, and chest wall involvement, and PET/CT is more accurate in the overall staging of lymphoma than CT and can be used to evaluate treatment response.

Surgical therapy of primary malignant bone tumours and soft tissue sarcomas of the chest wall: a two-institutional experience

PURPOSE

Primary malignant bone tumours and soft tissue sarcomas of the chest wall are exceedingly rare entities. The aim of this study was a retrospective two-institutional analysis of surgical therapy with respect to the kind and amount of the resection performed, the type of reconstruction and the oncological outcome.

METHODS

Between September 1999 and August 2010 31 patients (seven women and 24 men) were treated due to a primary malignant bone tumour or soft tissue sarcoma of the chest wall in two centres. Eight low-grade sarcomas were noted as well as 23 highly malignant sarcomas. The tumours originated from the sternum in six cases, from the ribs in 12 cases, from the soft tissues of the thoracic wall in 11 cases and from a vertebral body and the clavicle in one case each.

RESULTS

In 26 cases wide resection margins were achieved, while four were intralesional and one was marginal. In all 31 cases the defect of the chest wall was reconstructed using mesh grafts. At a mean follow-up of 51 months 20 patients were without evidence of disease, three were alive with disease, seven patients had died and one patient was lost to follow-up. One recurrence was detected after wide resection of a malignant triton tumour.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary malignant bone tumour or soft tissue sarcoma of the chest wall should be treated according to the same surgical oncological principles as established for the extremities. Reconstruction with mesh grafts and musculocutaneous flaps is associated with a low morbidity.

Rib tumors: a 15-year experience

OBJECTIVE

A retrospective study of rib tumors was conducted to review their clinical, radiological, and pathological features, the difficulties in differentiating benign from malignant tumors, as well as the early and long-term results of surgical management.

METHODS

All patients with rib lesions evaluated by the Thoracic Surgery Department from 1998 to 2012 were studied. The patient's age, sex, symptoms, radiologic evaluation, surgical procedure, pathologic diagnosis and follow-up were assessed.

RESULTS

Ninety-one patients (81 male, 10 female, age range 16-80) with rib tumors underwent surgery in a period of 15 years (1998-2012). 64 patients (70.33 %) had benign lesions and 27 patients (29.67 %) had malignant tumors. In the group with malignant tumors, the main symptom was pain, and in the group with benign tumors the main symptom was swelling. Ten patients with benign rib tumor and two with malignant tumor were detected during routine chest radiograph. All patients were treated surgically with wide excision of the tumor and the diagnosis was established histologically. In the benign cohort, osteochondromas, fibrous dysplasia, enchondroma, eosinophilic granuloma and posttraumatic fibro-osseous lesion/dysplasia were among the most customary diagnoses. In the malignant cohort, 13 patients (48.15 %) had metastatic lesions, with the remaining 14 patients having primary malignant rib tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Although radiographic imaging has evolved, all rib lesions must be considered as potentially malignant until proven otherwise. Prompt intervention is necessary and surgery must consist of wide resection with tumor-free margins to provide the best chance for cure in both benign and malignant lesions.

Chondrosarcoma of the chest wall: single-center experience

BACKGROUND

chondrosarcoma is the most common primary tumor of the chest wall. We analyzed cases of chest wall chondrosarcoma to establish the presentation, diagnostic tools, surgical treatment, and outcome.

METHODS

this was a retrospective observational analysis of 45 patients who underwent surgery for chondrosarcoma.

RESULTS

the mean age was 42.3 ± 8.5 years, and 57.8% patients were male. Symptoms were a painful chest wall mass in 91.1% of patients. Chest radiography and computed tomography, and biopsy were the diagnostic tools. The tumor was right-sided in 57.8% of patients. It was located in the lateral (71.1%), anterior (26.7%), or posterior (2.2%) chest wall. The mean tumor diameter was 7.6 ± 3.3 cm. Radical en-bloc excision was performed in all patients. Chest wall reconstruction was carried out using methylmethacrylate and Prolene mesh (42.2%), Prolene mesh alone (37.8%), and direct closure (20%). A muscle flap was used for soft tissue reconstruction in 11.1%. Complications were encountered in 6.7%. There was no operative mortality. Follow-up was complete in 66.7% of patients. The mean follow-up period was 3.7 ± 2.1 years. Local recurrences and late mortality occurred in 4.4%.

CONCLUSION

surgery for chondrosarcoma can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Proper selection of patients and radical en-block excision of the tumor are the keys for successful treatment and better outcomes.

Prognostic risk factors for the development of scoliosis after chest wall resection for malignant tumors in children

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection of a malignant tumor of the chest wall in children may result in the development of progressive scoliosis. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with scoliosis following resection of a tumor of the chest wall and to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of the scoliosis.

METHODS

Forty children who underwent resection of a malignant tumor of the chest wall from 1984 to 2005 were included in a multicenter, retrospective cohort study. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 9.8 years (range, 0.2 to nineteen years). Resections were classified with the use of the following scheme: the number of resected ribs was noted in Roman numerals, and the level of the resection was identified by dividing the thorax into three sectors (A [anterior], B [lateral], and C [posterior]) in the horizontal plane. One to five ribs (mean, 2.3 ribs) were resected. Patients with scoliosis were compared with patients who did not have scoliosis through the use of univariate and multivariate analyses. The mean duration of follow-up was 8.5 years (range, three to twenty-three years).

RESULTS

Patients who had a tumor resection during a rapid-growth period (patient age of less than six years or between twelve and fifteen years) had a 5.8 times higher risk of scoliosis. The resection of three or more ribs in the posterior sector (C) was the primary risk factor for scoliosis, with an odds ratio of 18.9. Seventeen (43%) of the children developed scoliosis, which was convex toward the resection side without vertebral rotation in all of them.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of scoliosis following the resection of a primary malignant tumor of the chest wall in children was shown to be higher when resection was performed during a rapid-growth period and when the resection involved three or more ribs in the posterior sector.

Surgical resection of a solitary plasmacytoma originating in a rib

Plasma cell neoplasms can present as a single lesion (solitary plasmacytoma) or as multiple lesions (multiple myeloma). Solitary plasmacytoma is a rare plasma cell neoplasm. There are 2 separate entities, dependent on the location of the lesion originating in either bone or extramedullary soft tissue. It is defined as a proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells without evidence of significant bone-marrow plasma-cell infiltration. We present a 71-year-old woman who was diagnosed with a solitary plasmacytoma of the bone located in the right third rib after surgical resection. A chest roentgenogram showed a solitary expanding lesion in the right third rib. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed an osteolytic chest wall tumor. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and CT (PET-CT) showed no abnormal uptake in the whole body, except for the third rib lesion. The patient underwent complete en-bloc resection of the chest wall including ribs, muscle, and parietal pleura. The patient is asymptomatic without any recurrence after one and a half years of follow up.

Prognostic factors in primary nonmetastatic Ewing sarcoma of the rib in children and young adults

BACKGROUND

The rarity of Ewing sarcoma of rib has resulted in paucity of data, particularly on the prognostic factors and pattern of relapses. We analyzed the recurrences in patients with primary nonmetastatic Ewing sarcoma of the rib and examined prognostic factors of poor outcome.

METHODS

From January 2004 to January 2011, 37 patients were treated. After induction chemotherapy, complete (from costal cartilage to vertebra) or partial excision of involved rib with or without adjacent ribs was performed. Postoperative radiotherapy was administered for positive margins, poor response to chemotherapy, and large primary tumors with significant soft tissue component at presentation.

RESULTS

Disease relapsed in 16 patients: at the local site (n = 5), both local and distant (n = 2), and distant site only (n = 9). The projected 5-year cause-specific, relapse-free survival and local control were 50%, 44%, and 72%. Poor response to chemotherapy (>5% residual tumor) and resection of adjacent lung parenchyma (a surrogate for tumor extension) were adverse prognostic factors for relapse-free survival in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Relapses occurred more often at distant sites and had a poor outcome. In this study, poor histologic response to chemotherapy (P = .04) and the infiltration of adjacent lung parenchyma (P = .01) are adverse prognostic factors.

Chondrosarcoma from the sternum: reconstruction with titanium mesh and a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap after subtotal sternal excision

BACKGROUND

Chondrosarcoma arising from the sternum is extremely rare and is often untreatable. Removal of the sternum for malignant tumor results in large defects in bone and soft tissue, causing deformity and paradoxical movement of the chest wall and making subsequent repair of the thorax very important. We report a very rare patient with a chondrosarcoma of the sternum who underwent case chest wall resection, followed by reconstruction using a titanium mesh covered with a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap.

CASE REPORT

A 63-year-old man was referred to our hospital with progressively enlarged swelling of his anterior chest wall. Physical examination showed a 2.5×2.0 cm mass fixed to the sternum, which was diagnosed as a chondrosarcoma based on clinical findings, imaging characteristics and incision biopsy results. The patient underwent a subtotal sternal and chest wall resection to remove the tumor, followed by reconstruction with a titanium mesh and a TRAM flap. There were no complications associated with surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

We report an extremely rare case of a patient who underwent subtotal sternal resection, followed by reconstruction, for a large chondrosarcoma. The elasticity and rigidity provided by the titanium mesh and the complete coverage of the surgical wound by a TRAM flap suggest that these procedures may be useful in reconstructing large defects in the chest wall.

The role of imaging for the surgeon in primary malignant bone tumors of the chest wall

Primary malignant chest wall tumors are rare. The most frequent primary malignant tumor of the chest wall is chondrosarcoma, less common are primary bone tumors belonging to the Ewing Family Bone Tumors (EFBT), or even rarer are osteosarcomas. They represent a challenging clinical entities for surgeons as the treatment of choice for these neoplasms is surgical resection, excluding EFBT which are normally treated by a multidisciplinary approach. Positive margins after surgical procedure are the principal risk factor of local recurrence, therefore to perform adequate surgery a correct preoperative staging is mandatory. Imaging techniques are used for diagnosis, to determine anatomic site and extension, to perform a guided biopsy, for local and general staging, to evaluate chemotherapy response, to detect the presence of a recurrence. This article will focus on the role of imaging in guiding this often difficult surgery and the different technical possibilities adopted in our department to restore the mechanics of the thoracic cage after wide resections.

[Chest wall surgery]

Despite the numerous differences among the distinct diseases of the chest wall, the surgery of this area shows certain common features. Treatment has progressively changed in the last few years due to advances in diagnostic techniques, minimally invasive procedures and reconstruction materials, and especially due to the multidisciplinary management of many diseases. Nuss' minimally invasive correction of pectus excavatum has gained devotees, although open approaches are performed with increasingly small incisions, almost comparable to the lateral incisions in Nuss' technique. Surgeons supporting the open approach also cite the evident disadvantages of the need for a steel implant for 2 or 3 years and for a second intervention to remove this implant. En-bloc resections with reconstruction using materials, which are increasingly better and covered by myocutaneous grafts in collaboration with plastic surgery departments, constitute a major advance in the treatment of chest wall tumors. Trimodal therapy for Pancoast tumors, consisting of induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy and subsequent surgical treatment of the tumor, currently provides the best results in terms of resectability and survival.

An unusual case of primary osteosarcoma of the rib in an adult

Primary osteosarcomas are one of the most common malignant bone tumors principally affecting the long bones in children and adolescents. An unusual case of a primary osteoblastic osteosarcoma of the rib in a 42-year-old male is presented here. The patient underwent a wide excision of the tumor and chest wall reconstruction. Although clinically unsuspected in this unusual site, the classic microscopic feature of a ramifying osteoid matrix amidst the tumor cells was diagnostic of an osteosarcoma.

Chest wall resection for adult soft tissue sarcomas and chondrosarcomas: analysis of prognostic factors

Background

Wide resection with tumor-free margins is necessary in soft-tissue sarcomas to minimize local recurrence and to contribute to long-term survival. Information about treatment outcome and prognostic factors of adult sarcoma requiring chest wall resection (CWR) is limited.

Methods

Sixty consecutive patients were retrospectively studied for overall survival (OS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Twenty-one prognostic factors regarding survival were analyzed by univariate analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test.

Results

With a median survival of 2.5 years, the OS was 46% (33%) at 5 (10) years. The LRFS was 64% at 5 and 10 years, and the DFS was 30% and 25% at 5 and 10 years. At the end of the study period, 26 patients (43%) were alive, of which 20 patients (33%) had no evidence of disease and 40 patients (67%) had no chest wall recurrence. In the group of 9 patients with a radiation-induced soft-tissue sarcoma, the median survival was 8 months. Favorable outcome in univariate analysis in OS and LRFS applied for the low-grade sarcoma, bone invasion, and sternal resection. For OS only, age below 60 years and no radiotherapy were significant factors contributing to an improved survival. CWR was considered radical (R0) at the pathological examination in 43 patients. There were 52 patients with an uneventful recovery. There was one postoperative death.

Conclusions

CWR for soft-tissue sarcoma is a safe surgical procedure with low morbidity and a mortality rate of less than 1%. With proper patient selection acceptable survival can be reached in a large group of patients. Care must be given to patients with radiation-induced soft-tissue sarcoma who have a significantly worse prognosis.

Large resection and reconstruction of primary parietal thoracic sarcoma: a multidisciplinary approach on 11 patients at minimum 2-years follow-up

BACKGROUND

Thoracic sarcomas are rare, and resection can leave behind defects that require significant reconstruction by the multidisciplinary surgical team. The aim of this study is to review the experience of our regional referral centre with primary thoracic tumor resection and thoracic reconstruction.

METHODS

We have reviewed the treatment of all chest wall tumors resected at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Western Australia over a 5-year period. There were 11 cases in total that involved removal of deep muscle, ribs and/or sternum.

RESULTS

In the six cases that required bony resection, the surgical team utilized a Gore-Tex (e-PTFE) mesh prosthesis to allow immediate closure of the defect, whilst five other closures were achievable using primary layered closure alone. Four patients had postoperative complications, including one who required prosthesis removal. Mean length of hospital stay was 5 days. No 30-day or 6-month mortality was recorded. All patients were followed-up for a minimum of 24 months, and all patients were alive and free of disease at their most recent follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

This study concurs with previous literature indicating that thoracic tumor resection and immediate reconstruction often involving use of prosthetic mesh is a safe and effective one stage surgical procedure for a variety of chest wall defects with low postoperative morbidity.