[A case of sternal chondrosarcoma with multiple pulmonary embolisms].

A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of a large, firm tumor in the upper region of the anterior chest wall. The tumor measured 8 x 10 cm in diameter. A diagnosis of chondrosarcoma of the sternum was made cytologically from a percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy. The primary tumor was completely resected, but the sternum, ribs and clavicles were only partially resected. Another tumor was detected five months after resection and metastasis to the brain was recognized in December 2000. The patient, now suffering headaches and vomiting due to the intracranial hemorrhage around the metastatic lesion in the brain, was readmitted. Although temporary improvement of his general condition was achieved by conservative treatment, he suddenly died of respiratory failure because of multiple tumor emboli in the pulmonary artery. This was a very interesting case in that the chondrosarcoma was of sternal origin and was complicated by tumor emboli in the pulmonary artery.