Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Clinical Efficacy of an Innovative Multidimensional Traction Therapy in Moderate Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
07:12

Clinical Efficacy of an Innovative Multidimensional Traction Therapy in Moderate Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Published on: February 10, 2026

Pectus deformities in children: a pictorial review

Timothy P Brown1, Carolina V Guimaraes2, Lane F Donnelly2

  • 1School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States.

Pediatric Radiology
|July 18, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric chest wall deformities like pectus excavatum can cause significant health issues. This essay details imaging for diagnosis, surgical planning, and postoperative care in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Radiology
  • Thoracic Imaging
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Pediatric chest wall deformities, including pectus excavatum (PE), pectus carinatum (PC), and pectus arcuatum (PA), are common congenital conditions.
  • These deformities can lead to significant psychosocial distress and cardiorespiratory morbidity in children.
  • Accurate imaging is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of imaging findings in pediatric chest wall deformities.
  • To highlight key imaging characteristics and indices essential for surgical planning.
  • To review common postoperative imaging findings and potential complications.

Main Methods:

  • This is a pictorial essay, emphasizing visual representation of imaging findings.
  • Review of characteristic imaging features across different types of pectus deformities.
  • Discussion of quantitative indices used in surgical planning.

Main Results:

  • Detailed illustration of the imaging appearance of pectus excavatum, carinatum, and arcuatum.
  • Presentation of key measurements and indices (e.g., Haller index) for surgical assessment.
  • Examples of common postoperative changes and complications.

Conclusions:

  • Radiologists play a vital role in the comprehensive evaluation of pediatric chest wall deformities.
  • Standardized imaging protocols and measurements aid in surgical planning and patient management.
  • Postoperative imaging is essential for monitoring recovery and identifying complications.

Keywords:
Chest wall deformitiesPectus carinatumPectus excavatumPediatric radiologyPostoperative complicationsThoracic wall abnormalitiesTomographyX-ray computed

More Related Videos

Modified Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for Patients with Thoracolumbar Kyphotic Deformity06:45

Modified Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for Patients with Thoracolumbar Kyphotic Deformity

Published on: September 16, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Fractures: Bone Repair01:27

Fractures: Bone Repair

Treatment for a fracture is based on the type of break, the bone affected, and the patient's age.
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the procedure...
Plastic Deformations01:19

Plastic Deformations

Plastic deformation represents a fundamental concept in materials science, which explains the irreversible change in the shape of a material when it experiences stress beyond its elastic capability. This phenomenon is important in structural engineering, especially in designing and analyzing cantilever beams—structures that are securely fixed at one end and bear loads at the opposite end. When these beams are subjected to loads within their elastic range, they will return to their original...
Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature01:16

Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature

The vertebral column or spine is a flexible column that supports the head, neck, and body and  allows for their movements. It also protects the spinal cord.
Regions of the Vertebral Column
In an adult, the spine is subdivided into five regions: the cervical, the thoracic, the lumbar, the sacral, and the coccygeal region. The spine initially develops as a series of 33 vertebrae; after 20 years of age, the nine bones in the sacral region, five sacral, and four coccygeal bones fuse to form the...