[Imaging procedures in the evaluation of tumors of the thoracic wall]

Modern sectional imaging methods supplement the clinical examination of chest wall tumors ideally by demonstrating their deeper components and relation to neighbouring structures. Imaging methods are still limited in demonstrating detail anatomy, a disadvantage that is caused by limited soft tissue contrast and motion artifacts. In certain cases, a specific diagnosis is made by the specific behaviour of the tissue, whereas much more often morphological criteria and the topographic location and relation of the tumor help get the specific diagnosis. Image-guided percutaneous biopsy of the chest wall is an easy, relatively non invasive way of getting the definitive diagnosis.