Chest wall desmoid tumor with life-threatening intrathoracic extension.

Fig. 1. The tumor, originating from the right posterior chest wall and involving the 8th, 9th and 10th ribs, had invaded the right thoracic cavity and was causing compression of the right lung and leftward displacement of the mediastinum. The patient had no history of pregnancy or surgical trauma in her chest wall. Preoperatively, the patient’s vital capacity was 940 ml (34% of normal) and echocardiogram revealed pulmonary hypertension (estimated right ventricular pressure: 62 mmHg).