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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Transaxillary First Rib Resection for Treatment of the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Published on: September 13, 2020
Thermal osteonecrosis of the rib after radiofrequency ablation in the thorax
Thomas X Le1, R Torrance Andrews
1University of Washington School of Medicine, Mail Code 357115, 1959 Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Abstract:
A patient underwent radiofrequency (RF) ablation of a pleural-based pulmonary metastasis from treated hepatocellular carcinoma. Ten months after the procedure, computed tomography and positron emission tomography findings raised the concern of tumor recurrence with invasion of the chest wall, for which the patient underwent thoracotomy with resection. Pathologic evaluation demonstrated osteonecrosis of the rib but no malignancy. This case illustrates that thermal osteonecrosis may occur after RF ablation of a pleural-based lesion.
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