Isolated costal cartilage fracture: an unusual cause of an anterior chest mass in a toddler.
A 17-month-old boy presented with a palpable anterior chest wall mass and was evaluated by chest radiography, sonography, and MRI. No history of trauma was provided initially. Sonography and MRI showed a costal cartilage fracture with overlying hematoma. Identification of a fracture isolated to the costal cartilage is rare and this is a unique case among children. In the appropriate clinical setting, costal cartilage fractures can be confirmed by sonography alone, and follow-up assessment can be based on clinical evaluation without the need for additional cross-sectional imaging.
Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA.
Robert C
RC
Orth
Tal
T
Laor
D050724:Fractures, Cartilage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012272:Ribs / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*