Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research 2009, 28:45 http://www.jeccr.com/content/28/1/45 hFAmoiog3snut--Dtrgherscao4aftfmtjeuprnuctthteiedonptortomocgoeegdtrhuaerperhswyhirotehwcoslinsgashttrisubfacoctnitoeonrryteashkoeeranplitn1igo4nat the A 3-D computed tomography reconstruction taken 14 months after the procedure shows satisfactory healing at the host-graft junction together with slight bone resorption. Dislocation of the shoulder joint and local recurrence is not present. degeneration were apparent as determined by radiogra- phy (Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8). Discussion Wide resection and reconstruction of scapular tumors presents a unique surgical challenge requiring an ade- quate surgical margin while maintaining maximal preser- vation of the involved soft tissues. In this case series, a preoperative imaging study in conjunction with analysis of intraoperative frozen sections were employed to deter- mine appropriate margins in each patient. The size of the scapular lesion for all seven patients ranged from 5 to 25 cm in length, 4 to 15 cm in width, and 3 to 10 cm in thick- ness. Bony destruction was commonly detected in region S2 indicating that most patient's lesions exceed or approx- imated the scapula in median length (155 ± 16 mm) and median width (134 ± 12 mm) as described previously [15]. Furthermore, the soft tissues surrounding the scap- ula were widely invaded. The surgical classification system and systemic adjuvant therapy both assist in defining safe resection borders and guiding muscle reconstruction. Type A resections (abduc- tors preserved) and Type I-III resections of the shoulder pTFohigseutosrhpeoe5rualdtievrelaybduction function and appearance 14 months The shoulder abduction function and appearance 14 months postoperatively. girdle always entail an intracompartmental resection [14]. Accordingly, partial scapulectomy (Type IIA) and scapular allograft reconstructions were performed successfully in all seven patients described herein. Chondrosarcomas are primarily located in region S1 (55%) and secondarily in region S2 (23%). Chondrosar- comas in region S1 are treated with partial scapulectomy whereas a total scapulectomy is performed more fre- quently in patients with a chondrosarcoma larger than 5 cm or for those located in region S2 [16]. This finding is not consistent with the two patients in this series diag- nosed with chondrosarcomas (#1 and 2). Instead of a total scapulectomy, a partial scapulectomy was elected for both patients because of the low stage of chondrosar- coma, despite the fact that both tumors were larger than 5 cm and located in region S2. The tumors of the remaining five patients were primarily detected in region S2. The scapular resection for lower stage tumors in these five patients indicated a Type IIA procedure. Among those tumors, chondroblastoma of the scapula is considered an aggressive but benign tumor associated with local recur- Page 6 of 10 (page number not for citation purposes)