Review of Primary Chest wall Tumors

Sohn, Sang Tae; Jee, Heng Ok; Kang, Jung Ho; Kim, Hyuck; Jung, Won Sang; Kim, Young Hak; Jeon, Sun Ho; Park, Moon Hyang; Shin, Sung Ho

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chest wall tumors can classified into soft tissue tumors and bone tissue tumors and can be subclassified into benign and malignant tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report an analysis of 68 patients with primary chest wall tumors treated at the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Hanyang University Hospital from January, 1973 to September 1997. RESULTS: Among a total of 68 patients 33 (48.5%) were males and 35 (51.5%) were females. The ages of the patients ranged from 10 to 79 years with a mean age of 39.3 years. According to the age distribution, 23 patients (33.8%) were from the 4th decade, 12 patients (17.6%) were from the 6th decade, and 10 patients (14.7%) were from the 5th decade. Among the primary chest wall tumors, 53 cases were benign and 15 cases were malignant. Among the benign tumors, 17 cases (32.1%) were in the 4th decade and among the malignant tumors, 6 cases (40%) were in the 4th decade. In both malignant and benign tumors the most common ages were in the 4th decade. The most common tumors were fibrous dysplasia and chondroma, each with a total of 14 cases (26.4%). Osteochondroma and lipoma each had 8 cases (15.1%). Among malignant tumors, osteosarcoma was most common with 8 cases (53.3%). According to location, 49 cases occured in both bone and cartilage tissue, 19 cases occurred in cartilage. Among the presenting symptoms, palpable mass was present in all cases. Fifty-one patients complained of tenderness and among cases with involvement of the lung, 3 patients had complained of respiratory distress. Among the malignant tumors 6 cases underwent a radical operation and 4 cases of benign tumors underwent a radical operation. Postoperativly, there was one case with recurrence from a desmoid tumor. There were no deaths postoperativly and no deaths due to complications (and their postoperative courses were uneventful).
CONCLUSIONS
Most patients with primary chest wall tumors initially present with mass at admission. Resection is sufficient treatment for benign tumors but in malignant tumors wide resection of the chest wall is needed and mchest wall reconstruction.