Chest wall tumors: a series of 17 cases.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the different approaches to surgical r epair of the thoracic wall and to discuss technical indications. From June 1987 to June 1997, we cared for 17 patients, 14 males (82.3%) and 3 females (17.7%) with parietal neoplasia. All patients underwent a preoperative res piratory work-up to identify tumoral extension. In 6 patients, the morpholo gy and location of the tumor led to CT-guided transthroacic needle aspirati on. Tumoral excision in 14 patients (82.3%) included wide resection of oste omuscular structures. Reconstruction of the thoracic wall associated,myopla sty in all cases. A prosthesis was installed in 5 cases and a rib transposi tion in 2. Pathology examination of the surgical specimen revealed 13 prima ry tumors (76.5%) and 4 secondary tumors (23.5%) CT-guided transthoracic ne edle aspiration confirmed the diagnosis in 82.2% of the cases. Twelve patie nts (70.5%) were alive and recurence free at 85.6 +/- 40 months after surge ry. Five patients died (29.5%) 12.2 +/- 10.1 months after surgery. There wa s one case of prosthesis infection (5.8%). The appropriate choice of the su rgical technique and repair materials gave satisfactory oncological, esthet ic and functional results independently of the extent of the parietal defec t.