Related articles: Funnel chest
Definition
The funnel-shaped chest (or pectus excavatum) is a deformity of the thoracic cage characterized by the sagging of the distal part of the sternum.
The causes that lead to the onset of pectus excavatum are unclear. Among the various hypotheses, this defect of the thoracic cage could be due to an excessive growth of the costal cartilages, which would tend to push the sternum towards the central area of the thorax, towards the vertebral column. In other cases, it could be an abnormality of the sternum or diaphragm.
The funnel-shaped chest is almost always congenital (present from birth) and, often, the anomaly shows familiarity.
Sometimes, this malformation is acquired (rickets and scoliosis) and can be found in association with other pathological conditions, such as: cardiopathies (eg mitral valve prolapse), bronchopulmonary dysplasia, recurrent polychondritis or Marfan syndrome.
Pectus excavatum is generally asymptomatic. However, in pronounced cases, in addition to having a chest that is too re-entrant, the patient appears curved with the shoulders forward and the abdomen prominent. In some cases, this defect in the rib cage can limit respiratory excursions and lead to the appearance of cardiovascular and pulmonary problems.
Possible Causes * of Chest funnel
- Imperfect osteogenesis
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Marfan syndrome
