Treatment approaches vary depending on the specific condition, with options ranging from conservative management, antibiotic therapy, and physical therapy to surgical interventions for more severe cases. Saint John\u2019s Health Center aims to alleviate symptoms, restore chest wall integrity, and improve overall quality of life.<\/p>\n
Chest Wall Tumors<\/h3>\n
Cancerous tumors are uncommon. Chest wall tumors, whether malignant are classified as primary or secondary (metastatic). The most common benign tumors are osteochondromas and chrondromas. The most common malignant chest wall tumors are sarcomas.<\/p>\n Primary tumors originate in the bone or muscle of the chest wall. Less than half of malignant chest wall tumors are primary. Secondary tumors originate elsewhere in the body and spread (metastasize) to the chest wall. Almost all secondary tumors are malignant. Most chest wall tumors found in children are primary, while most found in adults are secondary. All of these tumors tend to be a lump on the chest wall surface or a growth that invades the bone or muscle.<\/p>\n What are the Symptoms of a Tumor in your Chest?<\/strong><\/p>\n Symptoms of malignant (cancerous) chest wall tumors may include one or more of the following<\/strong>:<\/p>\n At Saint John\u2019s Health Center, we will perform an X-ray to see if there is an abnormality. If there is an abnormality visible on the X-ray, we will do a CT scan (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan to gain additional information about the chest wall abnormality, such as size and location. These scans provide additional detail including soft tissue structures.<\/p>\n After this information is collected, a biopsy of the abnormality is obtained to diagnose what the tumor is and to determine if the tumor is cancerous. The most common procedure is an aspiration biopsy, in which a needle is inserted into the tumor cells are removed for examination. If it is too difficult to reach the tumor site, you may be asked to undergo an open biopsy, which requires a small surgical incision. If the tumor is benign, the tumor may need to be surgically removed if it interferes with organ function such as breathing, causes pain, hinders movement, or causes muscles to atrophy. If the tumor is malignant, treatment can include a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical removal and reconstruction.<\/p>\n It is typical for a portion of the rib cage to be removed to access the chest wall tumor. This is followed by reconstruction of the affected chest wall portion, which can include adjacent muscle or synthetic materials. The amount of chest wall that must be removed and the associated risks and benefits of the operation are reviewed with you and the surgeon before the procedure. The chest wall is made up of the ribs, the sternum, and cartilage. Occasionally, infections of the chest wall might appear to only involve the skin but may represent a deeper infection of the ribs, cartilage, or other structures. An example of a chest wall infection is empyema\u2014a fluid that collects in between the chest wall membranes (pleura) and the chest wall.<\/p>\n Examples of secondary infections, causes, or risk factors include having:<\/strong><\/p>\n Chest wall infections may also manifest in various ways, such as Pleuritis\u2014an infection of the chest wall membranes (pleura). Costochondritis is another condition that involves inflammation of the chest wall cartilage which connects the ribs to the sternum (the breastbone). Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can also infect the chest wall, resulting in chest wall pain and inflammation.<\/p>\n The most common presenting symptom of a chest wall infection is chest pain. Chest pain may increase with activity or worsening of the infection. Other symptoms include<\/p>\n Chest wall infections are often treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. However, certain chest wall infections may require surgery to remove the infection, along with possible reconstruction of the chest wall.<\/p>\n Most patients do not have symptoms, though a minority of patients may have the following symptoms:<\/p>\n The causes of pectus excavatum are not well understood. It is thought that the deformity is due to excessive growth of the connective tissue that joins the ribs to the breastbone. This excessive growth may subsequently cause an inward defect of the sternum. If there is uncoordinated growth between the ribs and the chest, the ribs may grow faster than the expansion of the heart and lungs (which normally pushes the sternum outward), resulting in the sternum being pushed inward. Tests and Diagnosis of Pectus Excavatum<\/strong><\/p>\n Since most patients with pectus excavatum do not have symptoms, treatment may not be needed or will be dependent upon the development of symptoms. If pectus excavatum is compromising to either the heart or lungs, your doctor may recommend surgery.<\/p>\n Risks of Surgical Repair<\/strong><\/p>\n Fractured ribs (also known as cracked ribs), usually occur as a result of blunt chest wall trauma or lifestyle injuries that range from cycling to football. Fractured ribs may heal on their own without treatment. However, some patients have rib fractures in which bone fragments can damage major blood vessels, or structures like the lung, liver, kidneys, or spleen. In these cases, rib fractures usually require treatment.<\/p>\n Risk Factors of Rib Fractures<\/strong><\/p>\n Diagnosis of rib fractures is achieved via X-Ray, CT scan, or MRI, which can also look at the organs and soft tissues around the ribs to detect damage to these areas. Most non-displaced fractured ribs heal without surgery in one to two months and are treated with non-surgical care that ranges from aggressive pain management to proper ventilation. For patients with displaced fractures, flail segments, or high narcotic requirements surgical treatment with rib plating may be required along with aggressive pain management and proper ventilation.<\/p><\/div>\n If you have questions regarding Chest Wall Conditions and Treatment, please call today. Click here<\/u><\/a> to request an appointment.<\/p>\n","layer_content_right":"![\"chest](\"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/thoracic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/chest-wall-tumor-ct-scan-diagnosis.jpg\")
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Tests and Diagnosis<\/h4>\n
Biopsy<\/h4>\n
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Treatment of Chest Wall Tumors<\/h4>\n
\nFor additional information on Chest Wall Tumors treatment, click here<\/a><\/u><\/strong>.<\/div>\nChest Wall Infections<\/h3>\n
![\"empyma\"](\"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/thoracic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/empyma.jpg\")
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Symptoms of Chest Wall Infections<\/h4>\n
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Diagnosis and Treatment of Chest Wall Infections<\/h4>\n
![\"x-ray](\"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/thoracic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/x-ray-reveals-an-infection-pleurisy.jpg\")
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Chest Wall Deformity (Pectus Excavatum)?<\/h3>\n
![\"chest](\"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/thoracic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/chest-wall-deformity.jpg\")
Symptoms of Pectus Excavatum<\/h4>\n
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\u00a0What causes Pectus Excavatum?<\/h4>\n
\nThere are certain disorders associated with pectus exacavatum including:<\/strong>
\n![\"Marfan](\"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/thoracic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/Marfan-Syndrome.jpg\")
Marfan Syndrome<\/h5>\n
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Rickets<\/h5>\n
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Scoliosis<\/h5>\n
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Treatment of Pectus Excavatum<\/h4>\n
Surgery<\/h5>\n
![\"Pectus](\"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/thoracic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/Pectus-Excavatum-treatment.jpg\")
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Rib Fractures<\/h3>\n
![\"rib](\"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/thoracic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/rib-fractures.jpg\")
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Rib Fracture Diagnosis and Treatment<\/h4>\n