Methods: The files of 25 patients (14 male, 11 female; mean age 38 years; range 16-74 years), who were operated in our clinic with the diagnosis of primary chest wall tumor between January 1998 and June 2008, were retrospectively reviewed. The masses of primary lung, pleura, mediastinal tumors invading the chest wall and metastatic lesions were excluded from the study. Reconstruction was performed in anterior chest wall defects of more than 5 cm in size. Polypropylene mesh, methyl metacrylate and the muscles of the chest and abdominal wall were used in reconstruction. In malignant tumors, all layers were resected after leaving a safe area of 4 cm. In order to provide a histopathological diagnosis, a needle, incisional, or excisional biopsy were used.

Results: The most common complaints of patients were swelling in the chest wall and chest pain. On physical examination, there was chest wall mass in 19 cases (76%), sternal mass in four cases (16%), and mass-skin ulceration in two cases (8%). The diagnosis was established after removal of the mass through a wide resection in 16 cases, and it was established with a needle biopsy (tru-cut) in four cases and an incisional biopsy in five cases. Histopathological results were reported to be malignant in 13 cases and benign in 12 cases. There was no mortality observed.

Conclusion: We concluded that early diagnosis in primary chest wall tumors is very important, and reconstruction with radical surgery is the ideal treatment of choice.