Chondrosarcoma of the ribs and sternum. Considerations on 20 cases treated

Over the last 20 years at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute in Bologna 20 cases of chondrosarcoma (CS) of the thoracic wall (14 males, 6 females, mean age 49 years) have been submitted to surgery. Localization was costal in 11 cases, costosternal in 3, sternal in 3, costovertebral in 3. The most frequent histological variety was central with 15 observations. All of the cases were treated surgically. Exeresis was wide in 14 cases, marginal in 6. Reconstruction of the thoracic wall took place either by direct suturing or (14 cases) using prosthetic materials (Marlex mesh, 1 or 2 shapeable metal plates). Of the 20 cases treated, 16 patients are still alive (80%) with a mean survival rate of 33.5 months and a mean reduction in the postoperative ventilative index of function of less than 10%. The results obtained lead us to believe that surgical treatment involving wide exeresis is adequate, and the reconstruction method using Marlex mesh and metal plates is reliable.