A surgical case of a giant cell tumor originating from the first rib

Abstract

A 72-year-old woman had a left rib tumor that was detected 50 years ago. At that time, surgery wasn't indicated. From February 2006, she had complained of left back pain and a left supraclavian tumor. Computed tomography revealed a 9.0 cm tumor that originated from the left first rib. Open biopsy found a giant cell tumor of the bone. We planned surgery. After embolization of the feeding artery, surgery was performed by transmanubrial approach and posterior approaches. The adhesion around the tumor was tight, but there was no invasion of the subclavian vein. We could extirpate the tumor with the first and second ribs.