Primary malignant tumors of the sternum

Abstract

Background: Primary tumors of the sternum are rare and account only 0.5% of all primary bone tumors. They are often malignant, osteolytic and aggressive. They often present difficulties in management
Aim: To determine clinical, pathological and therapeutic characteristics for primary malignant tumors of the sternum. Patients and methods: We report a series of six cases of primary malignant tumors of the sternum, collected in our institution between 1993 and 2009.
Results: There were 4 men and 2 women with a mean age of 69, 5 years. Parietal swelling was the most frequent symptom. Imaging showed a sternal lytic lesion. Three tumors were treated surgically. Associated treatments were neoadjuvant chemotherapy (1 case) and postoperative radiotherapy (1 case). A medical treatment (radiotherapy alone or chemotherapy) was performed in 3 cases. These tumors were divided as below: 3 plasmacytoma, 1 chondrosarcoma, 1 osteosarcoma and 1 large B cell lymphoma.
Conclusion: The management of primary malignant tumors of the sternum is multidisciplinary. It depends on the histological type, the possibility of surgical treatment and the distant and local aggressiveness.