Tietze's syndrome--a chameleon under the thoracic abdominal pain syndrome

Tietze's syndrome is characterized by pain due to a self-limiting, localized, non-suppurative swelling of the costochondral or sternoclavicular junction of unknown etiology. The case of a woman is presented here who was submitted to the hospital under the suspicion of a pathological fracture. After extensive investigations the diagnosis of Tietze's syndrome was made by exclusion, and the patient was successfully treated with local injection of an anaesthetic. Possible differential diagnoses of Tietze's syndrome include myocardial infarction, pneumonia, and others. This report emphasizes the importance of a thorough clinical investigation and the need for the exclusion of severe and lifethreatening diseases.