Resection of sternal tumors: extent, reconstruction, and survival

Resection of sternal tumors may be tailored to the patient and the location of the malignancy.

We reviewed our results of sternectomy (typically 5-cm margins) performed in 30 patients over a 10-year period.

Thirteen patients had primary sternal sarcoma (six chondrosarcoma, five osteosarcoma, two other); 10 patients had local recurrence from breast cancer; 4 patients had metastases; 3 patients had other (two osteoradionecrosis, one malignant fibrous histiocytoma). Morbidity occurred in 8 patients (26.7%): wound dehiscence, 2; wound infection, 1; hemorrhage, 1; pneumonia, 1; prolonged air leak, 1; empyema, 1; and bronchopleural fistula, 1. One patient, with multiple metastases, died from adult respiratory distress syndrome on day 25 (overall mortality, 3.3%; 1 of 30). The area of reconstruction ranged from 35 to 264 cm2. The technique of reconstruction included muscle flap alone in 13 patients; muscle flap and mesh, 9; muscle flap and rigid prosthesis (Marlex methylmethacrylate), 7; or other, 1 patient. Nineteen patients (63%) were extubated within 24 hours after operation. Median intensive care unit stay was 2 days; median hospitalization, 6 days. Late local recurrence after resection occurred in 6 patients; 4 from breast cancer (3 patients had concurrent distant metastases). Five-year actuarial survival after primary tumor resection was 73% and 33% after resection of recurrent breast cancer (median, 21 months).

Partial sternectomy may be performed for primary sternal tumors with short hospitalization and good local control. Wider local excision or total sternectomy may minimize local re-recurrence of breast carcinoma to the sternum.