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Costochondritis

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Costochondritis, Costosternal Syndrome, Parasternal Chondrodynia, Anterior Chest Wall Syndrome

  • See Also
  1. Chest Pain
  2. Chest Wall Pain
  3. Chest Wall Pain Prediction Rule
  • Epidemiology
  1. Age over 40 years is more typical
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Chronic inflammation affecting the costochondral joints
  2. Idiopathic
  • Symptoms
  1. Chest Pain accentuated by respiratory movements
  2. Localized pain to the costochondral margin at ribs 2 to 5
  3. Affects more than one costochondral margin in most patients
  • Signs
  1. Costochondral margin tenderness without swelling
  2. Palpation reproduces Chest Pain
  • Differential Diagnosis
  1. See Chest Wall Pain
  • Imaging
  1. Consider CT Chest if neoplasm or infection-associated local destruction suspected
  2. Consider gallium scanning if infection suspected
  • References
  1. Chicarilli (1986) Plast Reconstr Surg 77(1): 50-9 [PubMed]
  2. Proulx (2009) Am Fam Physician 80(6): 617-20 [PubMed]