An effective and safe surgical approach for a superior sulcus tumor: A case report

Superior sulcus tumors, frequently referred to as Pancoast tumors, are a wide range of tumors invading a section of the apical chest wall called the thoracic inlet. For this reason, a surgical approach and complete resection may be difficult to accomplish. We experienced a locally advanced superior sulcus tumor (SST) located from the anterior to posterior apex thoracic inlet and performed complete resection after definitive chemoradiation.

A 71-year-old Japanese male presented at our hospital due to left back pain and an abnormal chest computed tomography (CT) scan showing 80×70×60-mm tumor located in the left middle apex thoracic inlet. This tumor was located near the subclavian artery, and the subclavian lymph nodes were swollen. The tumor was found to be an adenocarcinoma (clinical-T3N3M0 stage IIIB). Therefore, we performed definitive chemoradiation therapy. Slight reduction in the tumor size was noted after the treatment, and the subclavian lymph nodes were not swollen. We next performed surgical resection for this SST. Regarding the surgical approaches, the anterior approach was a transmanubrial approach, and the posterior approach was a Paulson's thoracotomy. In this manner, we were able to perform complete en-bloc resection of this tumor.

This surgical approach was effective and safe for treating a SST located from the anterior to posterior apex of the thoracic inlet. The patient remains healthy and recurrence-free at 2.5 years after the operation.

Surgical approach for SST is difficult. Therefore, this approach is effective and safety.