Clinical outcomes of tumors and tumor-like lesions located in the clavicle

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the characterization of tumors and tumor-like lesions located in the clavicle and to present their clinical results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2018, a total of 44 patients (25 males, 19 females; mean age: 36.2±21.8 years; range, 2 to 87 years) who were operated in our clinic for a clavicular lesion were included. Among 4,856 extremity tumors operated in our clinic between these years, 44 cases (0.9%) located in the clavicle were eligible. Demographic data, tumor types, location, surgical method, metastasis, survival analyzes and clinical results of these patients were reviewed retrospectively. According to the clavicle location, the patients were divided into groups according to their involvement in proximal, middle, lateral and more than one region. RESULTS: The most frequently involved site was the lateral edge of the clavicle, and the most common tumor was aneurysmal bone cyst. The most common malignant tumor was Ewing sarcoma and plasmacytoma (13.6%) and the most common surgical method in the clavicle was wide resection with 34.1%. Of the 38 primary clavicle tumors remaining after the metastatic lesions were removed, 21 (55%) were benign, while 17 (45%) were malignant. Aneurysmal bone cyst was most common in the group under 30 years of age, osteochondroma was most common in the 30-50 age group, and plasmacytoma was most common in those over 50 years of age. The mean musculoskeletal tumor society (MSTS) score of 15 patients (34.1%) who underwent clavicle resection was 79.4±6. CONCLUSION: We believe that a wide spectrum should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumors located in the clavicle. Age is an important predictive factor for malignancy. We believe that resection should be applied without fear considering its effects on function and recurrence.