CHEST WALL TUMOURS

The chest wall as any other part of our body may be the point where benign or malignant tumours may develop. Many tumours of the chest wall are of metastatic origin.
These tumours may increase significantly in case of not prompt diagnosis and treatment. Also they may cause destruction to the adjacent anatomical structures and they may influence negatively the function of neighbouring organs even if they are benign tumours.
Chest wall tumours usually are treated surgically after fine needle biopsy or after surgical resection of a small specimen.
The decision regarding the kind of treatment depends on the histological type, the caused symptoms, the tumour location, its relation to the adjacent structures, and the patient’s general condition.
Chest wall reconstruction is mandatory whenever the defect is larger than 5cm in diameter and whenever it is not covered by the scapula.
This aim may be achieved by the use of synthetic grafts or tissue auto-grafts.