Resection of a chondrosarcoma arising in the right first rib: a case report

Primary chest wall tumors are relatively rare, and in individual cases the biological properties and onset site of the tumor must be considered before surgery, and the chest wall defect must be reconstructed. The case of a patient with a chondrosarcoma arising in the right first rib who underwent resection and reconstruction is reported. The patient was a 56-year-old man with a 6 × 7 cm tumor in the anterior chest wall side of the right first rib; biopsy confirmed a grade I chondrosarcoma. During surgery, a safe surgical field was prepared by severing the clavicle inside the periosteum and resecting the tumor with the anterior side of the first and second ribs. The chest wall defect measured about 10 cm, and reconstruction was performed, using the greater pectoral muscle and a polypropylene mesh as covers. In the treatment of chondrosarcoma, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are less effective, and appropriate surgery is needed. In the present patient it was useful to prepare a safe surgical field for resecting the first rib tumor by severing the clavicle and then reconstructing the chest wall, using the greater pectoral muscle and a polypropylene mesh.