The results of surgical treatment of chest wall tumors in childhood

Chest wall tumors (CWT) are rarely seen in childhood and surgery constitutes a complementary part of the therapy. The early and late results of CWT resection and chest wall reconstruction were evaluated retrospectively. The children who underwent chest wall resection for CWT between January 1990 and November 2003 were evaluated retrospectively. Seventeen children (male/female=12/5, mean age: 7.58 years) underwent chest wall resection for CWT. Fifteen patients underwent initial biopsy (tru-cut, n=8 or open biopsy, n=7) and two underwent initial resection. The diagnosis was malignant tumor in 12 (70%) and benign in 5 (30%). They were Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) (n=4), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) (n=3), Askin’s tumor (n=1), rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) (n=2), neuroblastoma (n=2), osteochondroma (n=1), aneurysmal bone cyst (n=2) and hamartoma (n=2). Preoperative chemotherapy was given to most patients with malignant tumor. All patients had only local tumor at the time of resection. Thoracotomy was performed in all patients. All tumor tissues with the affected rib/ribs were resected en bloc with the adjacent tissues. The number of resected ribs was 1 (n=6), 2 (n=7) and 3 (n=4). Chest wall defects were repaired primarily (n=8) or with grafts (n=9). Dura (n=4), Neuro-patch (n=3) and Goretex (n=2) were used for closure. Wound infection and pleural fistula occurred in one patient. Patients with benign tumor were free of complaints or complications during follow up. All patients with malignant tumor received postoperative chemotherapy. Local recurrence did not occur in all patients. Five patients developed distant metastasis and two died. Scoliosis was encountered in one patient during follow-up. Since most of the CWT are malignant and not initially suitable for surgical excision, the management includes tissue diagnosis either by tru-cut or open biopsy. Determination of malignant condition should be followed by an intensive chemotherapy. Chest wall resection is planned to control local disease. Chest wall reconstruction may be needed for large defects following resection of CWT. Prosthetic materials can be used safely. Early complications of the surgery are limited. The patients should be closely followed up for late complications such as scoliosis, restrictive pulmonary disease and for the development of metastasis, which is a part of natural course of malignant CWT in children.