Surgical treatment of malignant tumors from the shoulder and upper limb: a study of 10 cases

Abstract

For a few patients with tumors arising from the scapula or periscapular soft tissues, amputation of the forequarter, although radical, is the surgical treatment of choice. However, in selected cases, the scapulectomy or the Tikhoff-Linberg resection can be an alternative. We evaluated ten patients who underwent surgery in the shoulder and upper limb, from 2000 until 2003 at the hospitals ASCOMCER, Oncológico and Dr. João Felício, in the city of Juiz de Fora, MG. We discuss the surgical technique, the relationship between tumor histology, site and/or vessels and nervous involvement, and the selection of one surgery or another, the local or systemic reccurrence related with the surgical technique, the use of neoadjuvants and adjuvants therapies with the surgery, the length of disease free follow-up, and death.