[The diagnosis and treatment of primary malignant tumors of the sternum].

Results of examination and treatment of 24 patients with primary neoplasms of the sternum including chondrosarcoma (18 cases), solitary plasmacytoma (5) and osteogenic sarcoma (1) were analysed. The diagnosis was based mainly on X-ray procedures and was further improved by computed tomography which allowed to precisely evaluate the extent of intrathoracic mass and its relation to adjacent mediastinal structures. Surgery was the main procedure used for the treatment of primary tumors of the sternum. Sixteen patients were operated on, and not a single case showed involvement of the mediastinum. Closure of defect was the major difficulty involved in the surgical treatment. Adequate resection of the sternum followed by autoplasty yielded good results.