Personalized 3D printed implants in the treatment of extensive chest wall tumors: clinical cases

3D printing has opened new opportunities for the development of personalized systems for prosthetics of extensive chest wall defects after radical surgical interventions for malignant tumors. However, risk factors for an adverse outcome of such operations have not yet been identified.

Clinical cases. A 65-year-old man with primary chondrosarcoma of the V rib, underwent surgical resection of three ribs, plasty with local tissues, and an individual 3D printed titanium implant was installed on the sternum and IV-VI ribs. Follow up for 26 months showed no complaints or signs of recurrence. A 52-year-old woman with radiation-induced soft tissue sarcoma of the chest wall, that developed 9 years after radiation for breast cancer, underwent resection of four ribs and pectoral muscles and a 3D printed titanium implant was installed on the sternum and II-V ribs. The operation was complicated by the marginal necrosis of the soft tissue flap and infection of the endoprosthesis, which required removal of the metal structure and reconstruction using TRAM flap. After 9 months, a local recurrence of the tumor was diagnosed.

Discussion. As a factor of a positive outcome in a man should be noted a thick layer of subcutaneous fat with muscle tissue, due to which plastic surgery was performed, covering the defect without tension. An extensive resection of the pectoral muscles in a woman created a tissue deficit. Another factor of an unfavorable outcome can be considered the radio-induced nature of the sarcoma. Further research is needed to improve the strategy for selecting patients with malignant tumors of the chest wall for prosthetics.

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