Clinical Results Following Early Tailoring Thoracoplasty in Patients Undergoing Pulmonary Resection / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Thoracoplasty has become a rarity in current clinical practice, although it has been widely employed for well over a century as a procedure for reducing the capacity of the thoracic cavity. Yet we have perform tailoring thoracoplasty following or concomitant with pulmonary resection in 20 patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the early and late clinical results and also the significance of tailoring thoracoplasty. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From March 1995 to June 2005, modified thoracoplasty following or concomitant with pulmonary resection was performed in 20 patients out of a total of 298 pulmonary resections for closing air leaks and for treating persistent pleural space following pulmonary resections, and to tailor the thoracic cavity to accept a diminished lung volume. Of the 20 patients, 14 patients had tailoring thoracoplasty performed concomitant with pulmonary resection, and the remaining 6 patients also had tailoring thoracoplasty performed following pulmonary resection. The subjects ages ranged from 24 to 77 (mean 59.1+/-6.4) and a male preponderance was noted (17:3); the number of left and right surgeries was equal. The preoperative primary underlying diseases were lung cancer in 7 patients, pneumothorax with giant bullous change in 6 patients, bronchiectasis in 2 patients, previous pulmonary tuberculosis associated with aspergilloma in 2 patients, empyema with fibrothorax in 2 patients and multiple lung abscesses & destruction due to previous trauma in 1 patient. The operative methods were apicolysis and subperiosteal removal of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ribs (the costochondral junction to the posterior portions of the ribs) with preservation of the first rib and compression of the anterior chest via cotton bags and elastic bandages. RESULT: The mean duration of the air leaks after thoracoplasty was 1.6+/-0.2 days (range: 0~7 days) and the mean duration of an indwelling chest tube was 7 days (range: 5~11 days); the mean duration of hospitalization was 19.2+/-2.8 days (range: 8~47 days). The postoperative complications were wound infection (2) and pneumonia (2); reoperation was done due to bleeding (1) in one patient who underwent concomitant thoracoplasty and there was 1 case of wound infection (1) after postresection thoracoplasty. The mortality was 1 patient in the early phase and 4 patients in the late phase. CONCLUSION: We conclude that tailoring thoracoplasty may be performed to close anticipated persistent pleural spaces and to accommodate the diminished lung volume with acceptable cosmetic results when this procedure is combined with pulmonary resection in selected patients.

Myxofibrosarcoma Originating from Chest Wall / 대한흉부외과학회지

Myxofibrosarcoma represents one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities in adult and elderly patients. However, it only rarely occurs in the chest wall. A 58 years old woman presented with a huge painless lump (8x6.5 cm) in the right lower parasternal area which recurred a few months following excision from General surgery of our hospital. Histology showed an infiltrative deep seated dermal and subcutaneous tumor. It had a distinctive lobular growth pattern with prominent myxoid change and moderate cellularity. Tumor cells were spindle-shaped with varying degrees of pleomorphism and frequent mitotic figures. Numerous blood vessels with curvilinear growth pattern were also seen. Immunostains for S-100, CD68, Mac 387, and FX IIIa were all negative, but positive for Vimentin. The histologic feature was of an intermediate grade myxofibrosarcoma. Wide excision was performed and recovered in good condition without any physical disabilities and was discharged at one month later. Currently she is waiting for the skin graft without chemotherapy and radiotherapy.