Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026

Prone Lateral Minimally Invasive Retropleural Corpectomy Using a Rotatable Radiolucent Jackson Table
Published on: July 3, 2025
Rib overgrowth may be a contributing factor for pectus excavatum: Evaluation of prepubertal patients younger than
Chul Hwan Park1, Tae Hoon Kim1, Seok Jin Haam2
1Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiological Science, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Background/Purpose:
We compared the costal cartilage and rib length between prepubertal patients with symmetric pectus excavatum and age- and sex-matched controls without anterior chest wall depression to evaluate if rib overgrowth is a contributing factor for pectus excavatum
Methods:
The sample included 18 prepubertal patients <10years old with symmetric pectus excavatum and 18 age-and sex-matched controls without chest wall deformity. The full lengths of the fourth to sixth ribs and costal cartilage were measured using three-dimensional volume-rendered computed tomography and curved multiplanar reformatting techniques. The rib and costal cartilage lengths, total combined rib and costal cartilage length, and costal index ([length of cartilage/length of rib]×100 [%]) at the fourth to sixth levels were compared between the groups.
Results:
The rib lengths in the patient group were significantly longer than in the control group for the 6th right rib and 4th, 5th, and 6th left ribs. The costal cartilage lengths and costal indices were not different between two groups.
Conclusions:
In patients with symmetric pectus excavatum aged <10years old, several of the ribs were longer than those of controls, suggesting that abnormal rib overgrowth may be a contributing factor responsible for pectus excavatum rather than cartilage overgrowth.
Related Concept Videos
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration...
Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:
Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like...
Respiratory System Abnormal Finding I: Inspection and Percussion
Inspection Findings
During an inspection, several findings may suggest the presence of respiratory distress or disease. Pursed-lip breathing, where exhalation is slowed by...
Mitral Valve Prolapse II: Assessment and Management

