[A case of chondrosarcoma arising from the left first rib].

A 46-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of a left supraclavicular tumor. The chest CT scan and MR imaging revealed that the tumor arose from the left first rib and developed into the supraclavicular region. In this case, we tried to resect the tumor using the so-called "trap-door" thoracotomy. Although removal of subclavian vessels and brachial plexus from the tumor was easily performed, we could not enough treat the vertebral side of the first rib through this thoracotomy without the T1 nerves injury. In cases of superior sulcus tumors developing into the posterior chest wall, a posterior incision combined with an anterior one will be useful to remove these tumors safely.