A gigantic thorax mass - resection and reconstruction

We present a rare case of a considerable chest wall mass surgically resected in a patient. A 59-year-old woman was submitted to complete excision of a chondrosarcoma from her 4th right rib 15 years before. After that time, the patient presented with a mass on her right hemithorax, which revealed to be a recurrence after the biopsy. Chest Computed Thomography (CT) and Magnetic Ressonance Imaging (MRI) scans indicated 21x19.5x24 cm of dimen- sion, from supraclavicular fossa to upper abdomen, with the destruction of the 4th, 5th and 6th right ribs, insinuating over the right lung, axillary vases, right hemidiaphragm and hepatic parenchyma. The patient was submitted to a complete enbloc excision of the mass, four ribs, atypical resection of the right lower lobe, partial resection of the right hemidiaphragm and reconstruction of the thoracic wall with polypropylene and methacry- late proteses covered with local soft tissue. The anatomical specimen weighted approximately 11kgs. After four days in intensive care and five days in the infirmary, the patient was discharged home; one month later she was readmitted to treat a seroma of the right hemithorax. To date the patient is well, with no sign of recurrence.