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Four accessory (supernumerary) intrathoracic ribs: a case report
Jose Prados1, Francisco Archilla, Consolación Melguizo
1Department of Anatomy and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy : SRA
|February 7, 2013
Summary
Multiple supernumerary intrathoracic ribs, a rare congenital disorder, were found consecutively in an adult. This unusual anatomical variation, though typically asymptomatic, is crucial for accurate thoracic imaging diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Congenital Disorders
- Radiology
Background:
- Accessory (supernumerary) intrathoracic ribs are an exceptionally rare congenital anomaly.
- Understanding rare anatomical variations is crucial for medical diagnosis.
Observation:
- This report details the first documented case of multiple, consecutive supernumerary intrathoracic ribs in an adult.
- These extra ribs were located between the first and fourth ribs and did not articulate with the vertebrae.
Findings:
- The identified anatomical variation was asymptomatic and discovered incidentally.
- The consecutive arrangement of multiple supernumerary ribs is unprecedented in existing literature.
Implications:
- Accurate identification of supernumerary ribs is vital to prevent misinterpretation during thoracic imaging.
- Knowledge of this rare condition aids radiologists in differentiating anatomical variants from pathology.
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Clinical Manifestations:
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