HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Aaron S. Estrera Melvin R. Platt Lawrence J. Mills Robert R. Shaw Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Estrera, A. S. Articles by Shaw, R. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Estrera, A. S. Articles by Shaw, R. R.

Ann Thorac Surg 1981;31:244-250
© 1981 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Articles

Pulsatile Sternal Tumor: Report of Three Cases and a Review of the Literature

Department of Surgery, Division of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, the University of Texas Health Science Center, Southwestern Medical School, and the Veterans Administration Hospital, Dallas, TX

Accepted for publication July 31, 1980.

^* Address reprint requests to Dr. Estrera, Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75235

At our institution, 3 patients with pulsatile sternal tumor have been seen. Although ascending aortic aneurysm frequently is high on the list of differential diagnoses, the likelihood that this tumor is metastatic from either a primary renal or thyroid neoplasm is overwhelming. Of the 15 patients reported, 11 had metastases from a primary renal cell carcinoma, including all 3 of our patients. There were 2 patients with primary myeloma, the only histologically proved primary pulsatile sternal tumor.

From the surgical standpoint, only the patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma has a chance of cure. With the recent report of 2 5-year survivors and our own experience of 1 patient with a long asymptomatic interval following resection of the primary kidney tumor and the secondary sternal metastasis, the attitude of hopelessness for these patients should be challenged and an aggressive approach considered.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Asha, H. Ibrahim, A. K. Eisawi, R. Orme, and A. Houghton Steal phenomenon in the lower limb: presentation of a case with osseous metastases secondary to renal cell carcinoma and review of the literature BMJ Case Reports, March 23, 2009; 2009(mar23_1): bcr0820080609 - bcr0820080609. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. W. Pyle, J. L. Ash, S. M. Hussain, N. Reid, and R. C. Anderson Sternal resection and reconstruction after renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the sternum J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., May 1, 2005; 129(5): 1177 - 1178. [Full Text] [PDF]