Primary Chest Wall Tumors: Factors Affecting Survival

Between 1955 and 1975, chest wall resection was done in 90 patients for primary chest wall tumors. Ages ranged from 8 to 96 years (mean, 44.3 years). A painful mass was the most common sign and symptom. Eighty-two tumors (91.1%) were located in the lateral chest wall and eight, in the anterior thorax. The tumor was malignant in 71 patients (78.9%) and benign in 19. All patients with benign tumors had complete excision and are currently free from disease. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma, chondrosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma constituted 62% of the malignant neoplasms. Most malignancies were treated by wide resection. There were no thirty-day operative deaths. Overall 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival was 89%, 57%, and 49%, respectively. Recurrent tumor developed in 37 patients (52%); 5-year survival, however, was only 17% after recurrence. Cell type and extent of invasion significantly influenced survival. Both chondrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma had a better prognosis than malignant fibrous histiocytoma ( p < 0.05). We conclude that early resection is the treatment of choice for primary malignant chest wall tumors and that development of recurrent disease is an ominous event.