A 73-year old man was admitted to the hospital for treatment of an anterior chest tumor with pain. There was a previous history of undergoing TAE therapy and partial resection of the liver for a hepatocellular carcinoma two years before admission. The chest tumor was diagnosed as sternal metastasis of the hepatocellular carcinoma. Because no other metastasis were found, an enbloc resection of the chest wall tumor with reconstruction of the chest wall using Marlex mesh® was successfully performed. After the operation, there have been no respiratory disorder nor evidence of recurrence as of one year after the operation. The bone metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma is usually complicated with other metastasis when it is detected. Simple sternal metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma like this case is quite rare.
Nihon Rinsho Geka Gakkai Zasshi (Journal of Japan Surgical Association)