Bifid sternum in a young woman: Multimodality imaging features

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Anatomical Abnormalities
• Congenital Disorders

Background:

• Bifid sternum is a rare congenital chest wall anomaly, occurring in 0.15% of chest deformities.
• It is typically diagnosed and surgically corrected in newborns.
• Associated cardiac or vascular anomalies are common.

Observation:

• This report details a rare case of bifid sternum diagnosed in a 21-year-old adult woman.
• The diagnosis was made during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the chest, prompted by an initial chest X-ray.
• Advanced imaging like MRI is infrequently used for this condition in the neonatal period.

Findings:

• The case presents a bifid sternum discovered incidentally in adulthood.
• It underscores the potential for delayed diagnosis of congenital anomalies.
• The use of MRI provided detailed anatomical information for this adult presentation.

Implications:

• This case emphasizes the importance of considering congenital anomalies even in adult patients presenting with non-specific symptoms.
• It highlights the utility of advanced imaging modalities in diagnosing rare conditions.
• Further research into adult presentations of bifid sternum may improve diagnostic strategies.