CHONDROSARCOMA OF RIB ORIGIN-A CASE REPORT-

We experienced a case of chondrosarcoma which originated in the 7th rib and infiltrated to the 6th and 8th ribs. A 53-year-old female was seen at the hospital because of right breast and chest pain in May, 1989. She was diagnosed as right mastopathy by mamma ultrasonography. In a 3-year follow up period, she noticed a hard tumor in the right anterolateral chest wall in 1992. It was diagnosed as tumor of the rib by abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, angiography and so on. Wide resection (tumor, #6, 7 and 8 ribs) and reconstruction using Marlex Mesh were performed on 21st in July. The histological examination revealed chondrosarcoma of rib origin postoperatively. The postoperative course was uneventful. Almost chondrosarcomas originate in the pelvis or extremital bones, and chondrosarcoma of rib origin is rare, representing about 5% of all. The common site of the disease is the costochondral joint of the anterior chest wall. The therapy to be selected first is the wide resection keeping about 3cm away from the tumor. No efficacy can be expected of chemotherapy or radiation therapy for this tumor. When the defect of the chest wall is too wide to close directly, reconstruction using Marlex Mesh would produce satisfactory results.