Long-term survival after salvage surgery for a giant primary rib osteosarcoma.

Abstract A 29-year-old woman with a primary rib osteosarcoma declined treatment and was re-admitted 20 months later in life-threatening condition caused by major local tumor progression with severe mediastinal shifting, and without distant metastases. She underwent extended tumor resection in palliative intent and recovered well after a prolonged course with post-pneumonectomy empyema. Any further treatment was declined and she presented again 4.5 years later with local chest wall recurrence which was completely resected. Currently, 7 years after diagnosis, the patient is free from disease. In this rare case, salvage surgery was associated with an unexpected favorable long-term outcome.