Slipping rib syndrome: a place for sonography in the diagnosis of a frequently overlooked cause of abdominal or low thoracic pain.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the sonographic appearance of a poorly recognized cause of low thoracic or upper abdominal pain.


METHODS
Three sonographic descriptions of slipping rib syndrome are presented.


RESULTS
The 3 patients had abnormal mobility of a cartilaginous rib, which could slip over an adjacent rib during abdominal muscle contraction.


CONCLUSIONS
Slipping rib syndrome should be considered in patients with histories of upper abdominal or low thoracic pain of unknown origin. We suggest that high-resolution sonography of the costal margin should be added to abdominal sonography in cases of nonspecific abdominal pain.
Meuwly
Jean-Yves
JY
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Wicky
Stephan
S
Schnyder
Pierre
P
Lepori
Domenico
D
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D012272:Ribs / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013577:Syndrome; D014463:Ultrasonography