[Surgical management of tumor in the conjunctive area among neck, thorax and axilla].
OBJECTIVE
To study the surgical management of tumors in the conjunctive area among the neck, thorax and axilla and its efficacy.


METHODS
From Oct. 1999 to March 2006, eleven cases with benign tumors in the area between the neck, thorax and axilla were collected and analysed. Among them, five neurilemmoma, three neurofibroma, two chondroma and one meningioma, respectively. CT scans showed that the neck, thorax and axilla were affected simultaneously more or less. In this group, direct invasion to the vertebra was found in 4 cases, and spinal compression in one patient. After the disarticulation and displacement of the clavicle, the tumor was removed with the structures of importance in the neck, thorax and axilla under direct views. A bypass was constructed between the axillary vein and the medial end of the subclavian vein.


RESULTS
All these tumors were completely removed, injury of vertebral artery was encounter in two cases, and immediate repair was successfully carried out. No other serious complications were found in this group. During the follow-up period from 3 months to 3 years and 5 months, local recurrence was found in no patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Benign tumors in the area between neck, thorax and axilla could be successfully dissected and removed with displacement of the medial portion of the clavicle.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China. weibojun1015@sina.com
Bo-jun
BJ
Wei
Xiao-li
XL
Zhu
Yan-li
YL
Chen
Hong
H
Shen
Pei-hong
PH
Peng
Feng
F
Ge
Ye
Y
Tian
Bao
B
Liu
Xiu-zhen
XZ
Shi
Xiao-wei
XW
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002968:Clavicle / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006119:Groin / Q000601:surgery; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult