A case of metastatic rib tumor resection using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

Abstract

We report a case of metastatic rib tumor of hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient presented with pain in the right thoracic area. Chest radiograph demonstrated a rib tumor. Chest CT showed a rib tumor protruding from the posterior portion of the right fourth rib. Abdominal CT revealed a hypervascular mass, which measured 40×32 mm, in the S6 of the liver in the arterial phase. The mass was washed-out in the delayed phase. The rib tumor was suspected to be metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma. Partial extirpation of the fourth rib, fifth rib, and rib tumor was performed using VATS with a minithoracotomy and two ports. Histopathological study confirmed metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. This study presents the usefulness of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for posterior rib tumors.