[Oncoplastic surgery for thoracic wall tumours]

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Context:

• Chest wall tumors (primary or metastatic) necessitate specialized oncoplastic surgical techniques.
• Reconstruction requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating functional and aesthetic considerations.
• Extensive resections involving multiple ribs or sternum present significant reconstructive challenges.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oncoplastic surgery for extensive chest wall tumor resection.
• To assess the combined use of prostheses and muscle-skin flaps for chest wall reconstruction.
• To determine the feasibility of performing radical resection and reconstruction in a single surgical period.

Summary:

• Fourteen patients underwent extensive chest wall resection (≥3 ribs) for various tumors including chondrosarcoma and metastatic sternum cancer.
• Reconstruction utilized prostheses (polytetrafluoroethylene or Marlex-Methyl Metacrylate) combined with pedicled muscle-skin flaps.
• The oncoplastic approach, integrating thoracic and plastic surgery expertise, demonstrated a safe and effective method for complex chest wall reconstruction.

Impact:

• This oncoplastic surgery strategy offers a safe and effective solution for extensive chest wall defects.
• The combined surgical expertise facilitates simultaneous tumor removal and complex reconstruction, improving patient outcomes.
• Successful reconstruction ensures functional integrity and aesthetic restoration, crucial for patient quality of life after oncological surgery.