Tumors of the ribs: experience with 47 cases.

Objectives: To emphasise the existing difficulties in differentiating benign from malignant rib tumours, and especially the problems that a clinical doctor encounters when dealing with a hyperplastic rib.

Methods: Forty-seven patients with rib tumour underwent surgery in a period of 12 years (1984-1996). In 40 cases (85%), the lesion was benign and in seven (15%) was malignant.