TUMOR IMPLANTS AFTER THORACOSCOPIC RESECTION OF A METASTATIC SARCOMA

Tumor implantation after video-assisted thoracic operations is rare. W e describe the case of a 61-year-old woman who underwent an apparently uneventful thoracoscopic resection of a solitary pulmonary metastasis from a primary limb sarcoma. Within 3 months, extensive trocar and di aphragmatic implants developed that required an extensive en bloc rese ction of her chest wall, diaphragm, and lung. Because of the aggressiv e biologic behavior of sarcomas and their potential to grow in surgica l tracts, concern is raised about the advisability of using video-assi sted thoracic surgical techniques in the management of these tumors.