What is the chest wall?
The chest wall is a cage between the neck and abdomen, formed by the vertebrae at the back, the ribs at the back side and front, and the anterior chest bone at the front. In addition to these bone structures, it consists of various layers of muscle between and over the bones. It also acts as a protective shield for vital organs such as the heart and lungs.
Why does a tumor form on the chest wall?
There can be benign or malignant tumors originating from bone structures, especially the ribs in the chest wall, muscles in the chest wall or connective tissues in between. Depending on the tissue in which they originate from, these tumors can have very different types and behaviors. However, there are common approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of these such tumors.
What are the symptoms of tumors in the chest wall?
The initial symptom of a tumor in the chest wall is generally a swelling in the chest wall. This swelling is relatively soft in the case of muscle tumors, but harder if it originates in the ribs or other bones. If the swelling grows at a slow rate, it should be examined, although it is usually benign. While some of these tumors are painful, some patients do not have complaints regarding pain. Although the presence of pain is more suggestive of a malignant tumor, it is important to keep in mind that some malignant tumors may not cause pain. Some rare tumors may be accompanied by general symptoms such as anemia, weight loss and weakness.
How are chest wall tumors diagnosed?
As with any common disease, a detailed history and complaints are signigicant for diagnosis. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the most important examinations when a tumor formation is seen on the chest wall. In some tumors, laboratory tests may also have guidance on the diagnosis. Today, although radiological imaging can largely answer questions such as whether the chest wall tumor is benign or malignant, what type of tumor it is, and from which tissue it originates, a biopsy tissue sample is often required for definitive diagnosis.
Biopsy can be performed by taking a small piece of the tumor with a thick needle or as open biopsy, or by taking the whole tumor (excisional biopsy) for some small tumors..
How are chest wall tumors treated?
Malignant tumors are usually the ones that grow rapidly or ones that are painful. Tumors of the chest wall may require surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of several of these treatments. In chest wall tumors, depending on the type of tumor, it may be necessary to remove part of the chest wall and to place an artificial patch called a graft in this area if needed.
What is the success rate for chest wall tumors?
The chance of treatment varies depending on the cell type of the tumor removed from the patient.
The treatment success rate is very high in chest wall tumors that are surgically removed with clear borders and a certain safety margin. Therefore, it is important that chest wall tumors are treated in a professional center and by an experienced surgical team.
