Thyroid carcinoma metastasis to the sternum: resection and reconstruction

Metastases of thyroid carcinoma to the sternum are not so frequent and ablative surgery enables the patients to live longer with a better quality of life. After such a resection, the surgical defect has to be covered either by autogenous or artificial substitutes. We present a 62 years old patient with an asymptomatic sternal metastasis of a poorly differentiated follicular thyroid carcinoma. After radical excision, including the sternum, both clavicular heads and an upper mediastinal dissection, the defect was reconstructed in two layers, combining a Marlex mesh and a pedicled pectoralis major muscle flap. Postoperative course was uneventful and respiratory function was not disturbed.