Chest wall tumors can be benign (non-cancerous), or malignant, meaning cancerous. Many malignant chest wall tumors are called sarcomas, cancerous cells that arise from your bone, muscle or other soft tissues.
Depending on the size of your tumor, your thoracic surgeon may recommend a biopsy or removing the tumor in one surgery. Your thoracic surgeon will recommend a minimally invasive approach when possible.
Treatment for Chest Wall Tumors in Washington, D.C.
If you do have a chest wall tumor, you want to see a thoracic surgeon who has experience working with an entire team to assess, treat and remove these tumors. At MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, our thoracic surgeons perform minimally invasive surgeries as much as possible, to avoid pain, prolonged recovery and complications.
Minimally invasive surgeries use smaller incisions, carry less risk of infection and reduce pain as well as the amount of time spent recovering.
Symptoms of Chest Wall Tumors
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bumps or abnormal growth on the chest area
Chest Wall Tumors Surgery
Your thoracic surgeon will make a determination on how to remove your tumor based on different criteria, including:
- Where the tumor is growing
- If it is malignant or benign
- How big the tumor is
- Other criteria determined by the biopsy
Depending on the tumor, you may be a candidate for a minimally invasive surgical approach vs. a resection, which means a large open incision. At MedStar Georgetown, our thoracic surgeons perform almost all of their surgeries using a minimally invasive approach to minimize your pain, risk of infection and help speed your recovery. Learn more about minimally invasive thoracic surgical procedures.
Request an appointment, or call us at 202-444-5045.
