Hemangioma of the rib: a case report

A case of hemangioma of the left seventh rib is presented. In January 1999, a 59-year-old woman presented with an enlarged costal mass which had been followed up for 4 years. Preoperative examination suggested chondrosarcoma because of tumor growth beyond the disrupted bony cortex. She underwent resection of the left seventh rib along with the sixth and seventh intercostal muscles and reconstruction of the chest wall defect. The pathological diagnosis of the lesion was hemangioma. She was discharged after an uneventful postoperative course. There has been no evidence of recurrence after a 14-month follow-up. Tumor growth beyond the disrupted bony cortex was a characteristic feature by both imagery and pathological examination in this case. This case represents a difficulty of a preoperative definite diagnosis of the chest wall tumors by imagery alone.