title: Chest wall tumors: Diagnosis, treatment and reconstruction.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine a suitable procedure for the treatment of chest wall neoplasms with less potential risk and an increased rate of survival. Fifty patients with suspected chest wall malignancies were analyzed using various preliminary investigation tools. Whole-chest scanning was performed in all the patients. The patients were subsequently subjected to biopsies for further confirmation of the neoplasm. All such patients were then treated with a surgical approach and radiation therapy, with a follow-up period lasting up to six years. The majority of the patients showed improved survival rates relative to conventional therapies. The survival rates of patients suffering from osteosarcoma (78%) were higher those of patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (73%) and malignant small round cell tumors (64%). The survival and the mortality rates of the patients with synovial sarcoma and fibrosarcoma were the same. This study, which was conducted on a small group of patients, has provided guidance for further studies on tumors of the chest wall, which may, in turn, increase the longevity of affected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guo-Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Basic Medicine, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ying-Qiu
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ling-Jin
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fan-Yan
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hai-He
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wan-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Luo
keywords: chemotherapy; chest wall neoplasm; diagnosis; radiotherapy; sarcomas