Iterative surgical demolition and reconstruction of the anterior chest wall and thoracic outlet for a recurrent chondrosarcoma: long term oncologic and functional results

Abstract

Chondrosarcoma is a cartilage-producing neoplasm, with a preferential location in the chest wall at the level of the sternum and the ribs. Prognosis depends from several factors, such as tumour grading and radicality of resection. Due to chemo and radio resistance, surgery including radical removal of the tumour and reconstruction of the rib cage is the main treatment, with radiotherapy reserved in case of R1 or R2 resection. We report a case of a 56-year-old patient affected by sternocostal chondrosarcoma submitted to several chest wall resections and reconstruction due to the multiple relapses reporting surgical strategy, and its impact on quality of life and respiratory function.