Primary Malignant Tumors of Ribs and Sternum -Report of 3 Cases-

흉골과 늑골의 원발성 종양 3예

This is a report of 3 cases of tumors, which primarily originated from ribs and the sternum. In the first case of multiple myeloma, the patient was 67 year old male with a tumor located on the middle sternum invading the manubrium and the body of the sternum manifesting symptoms after a contusion of the anterior sternum. The sternum was entirely resected and was replaced by tantalum plate to reconstruct the defective chest wall in order to prevent the paradoxical movement during respiration. In the second case of osteogenic sarcoma, the patient was 43 year old male with a tumor located on the costochondral junction of the left 5th rib for 6 months. The left 5th rib was resected between the middle part and sternochondral junction of it including tumor and adjacent soft tissues. In the third case of chondrosarcoma, the patient was 36 year old male with a tumor located near the posterior angles of the right 7th and 8th ribs manifesting back pain on the area where the tumor was located. Resection of right lower lobe was performed since direct invasion of tumor was seen in the superior segment of right lower lobe. This was followed by the resection of both 7th and 8th ribs at the area between the costovertebral junction and the portion 10 em apart from the tumor including the tumor and intercostal soft tissues. Diagnoses of 3 cases of tumors described above were confirmed by histopathologic examination postoperatively. The postoperative courses were uneventful.