Differentiating Chronic Neuropathic Rib Pain: A Case Report

Rib cage pain can be challenging to diagnose due to a wide variety of etiologies in the area. Intercostal neuromas are a potential source of pain in the thoracic region. In the setting of blunt intercostal trauma, intercostal neuromas should be higher on the differential.

We describe the case of a 69-year-old man with severe thoracic pain for 10 years due to intercostal neuroma who had extensive medical workup over the course of 10 years prior to the diagnosis causing his chronic pain. He received definitive treatment with surgical resection of his intercostal neuroma.

This article highlights the need to consider neuroma formation in the setting of blunt trauma and the benefits of diagnosis provided by musculoskeletal ultrasound.