ABSTRACT
In this study we present the combined experience of the surgical oncology, general surgery and the cardiothoracic surgery teams in radical treatment of chest wall tumours including the different methods of chest wall reconstruction after excision of the tumours, and the short-term follow-up of those patients regarding clinical, cosmetic and functional state of respiratory dynamics after surgery. 45 patients were operated upon for chest wall tumours [CWT]. Patients were classified into 3 groups: [1] Group 1: including 15 patients for whom no skeletal reconstruction was done. [2] Group 2: including 15 patients, for whom skeletal reconstruction was done by Methyl methacrylate bone cement embedded in double layer of marlex mesh. [3] Group 3: including 15 patients, for whom skeletal reconstruction was done by Marlex mesh alone. There were 3 patients who required postoperative ventilation in group I, none in group II, and one patient required postoperative ventilation in group III, all of them could be weaned from ventilation within 12 hours. 3 patients developed mild paradoxical respiratory movements in group I, none in group II and one patient in group III due to chest wall instability. All the myocutaneous flaps were viable at the time of discharge. All patients expressed satisfaction with the cosmetic results. There was one case of soft tissue infection in group I, one case of infection of the mesh in group II and another patient in group III. They responded to local drainage and antibiotic treatment. We conclude that proper reconstruction of the bony cage and soft tissue covering is possible after wide excision of the tumours, with the aid of a variable number of prosthetic materials and muscle flaps. Satisfactory results regarding tumour recurrence, cosmetic appearance, clinical state, and respiratory functions of the patients after operations were obtained