[Surgical therapeutic possibilities in extensive chest wall and rib metastases]

87 extensive tumors of the chest wall were resected in an 8 year period. The defects including subtotal sternectomies and segment resections up to 7 ribs were reconstructed with musculocutaneous flaps without any osteoplasty or implants. The latissimus dorsi flap closes pleural defects safely. The innervated muscle stabilizes the chest wall. The rectus abdominis flap fits defects of greater volume but the blood supply is less reliable. The use of pectoralis major or free microsurgical tissue transfer may be indicated in absence of any other possibility.