Pectus excavatum (funnel chest): a historical and current prospective.
Pectus excavatum (PE) is a relatively common deformity involving the anterior chest wall. It is represented clinically as a conical depression of the sternum and costal cartilages with the apex at the xiphoid process. Associated features and symptoms vary but generally involve respiratory and cardiac abnormalities. Since it's initial description, numerous surgical techniques have been developed to correct PE, with the Ravtich (open) and Nuss (minimally invasive) procedures being the most commonly employed. Although the etiology remains unclear, the pathogenesis of PE is currently thought to involve the overgrowth of the costochondral region of the ribs. In addition, documented case reports of familial pectus excavatum exist, suggesting a heritable form of the defect. Numerous genetic markers have also been discovered, linking PE to various genetic syndromes.
Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, St. George's University, Grenada, West Indies.
Chase
C
Dean
Denzil
D
Etienne
David
D
Hindson
Petru
P
Matusz
R Shane
RS
Tubbs
Marios
M
Loukas
D005660:Funnel Chest / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012272:Ribs / Q000002:abnormalities; D013249:Sternum / Q000002:abnormalities; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000002:abnormalities; D014989:Xiphoid Bone / Q000002:abnormalities