Complex Presentation of Anterior Chest Wall Chondrosarcoma

Abstract

Chondrosarcoma is the third most common primary bone malignancy, but its thoracic presentation is unusual compared to the pelvis and extremities. Chest wall chondrosarcomas are difficult to be surgically resected due to their proximity to neurovascular structures. We report the case of a 48-year-old man presenting with a history of chest bulging. Computed tomography showed a lesion of approximately 12 cm in the sagittal axis adjacent to the upper lobe of the left lung, compressing the upper lobar bronchus and causing parenchymal atelectasis. Biopsy revealed chondrosarcoma. The lesion extrinsically compressed the left pectoralis major muscle and invaded the left pectoralis minor muscle. After complete surgical resection, the patient was discharged on postoperative day 20.

Keywords

• chondrosarcoma
• thoracic wall
• thoracic surgery