[Surgical treatment of sternal tumors]

Sternal tumors are rare. The surgical indication in case of metastasis is only justified if the primitive tumor is considered cure and with solitary metastasis. The en-block surgical resection must be based on pre-operative exploration in which a thoracic CAT SCAN has a very important role to determine the extent of the tumor and the anatomico-pathological control of the margin of resection during surgery. The reconstruction using methyl-methacrylate plate is interesting because of its rigid mounting by a moldable substance during surgery, being radiotransparent, inert and well-tolerated by the organism. On high sternal position it contributes to stabilize the scapular belt and assures mediastinal protection. The authors present a case of a partial sternectomy due to metastatic thyroid carcinoma with en-block resection and reconstruction by a methyl-methacrylate moulded plate.