Resection and reconstruction for primary sternal tumors.

Radical resection can offer a definitive cure of primary malignant sternal tumors, but the surgical management may be difficult because of the local aggressiveness of these tumors and a high recurrence rate. This article describes improvements in reconstruction techniques with musculocutaneous flaps that have made coverage of wide sternal defects reliable. A rigid reinforcement of the sternum can now be achieved with titanium bars and clips after a total sternectomy. Large sternal defects are safely reconstructed with a musculocutaneous flap. The completeness of the resection and the histologic grade of the tumors are the strongest survival predictors.