Our pediatric surgeons consult with the hospital’s pediatric radiologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, geneticists and orthotists to diagnose, evaluate and treat chest wall deformities and ensure the best possible outcomes for patients and their families.
What are chest wall deformities?
Chest wall deformities are structural abnormalities in the chest. The two most common are:
- Pectus excavatum (sunken chest), occurring in about one in 500 children.
- Pectus carinatum (pigeon chest), occurring in about one out of 1,500 children.
Both are seen more often in boys than girls and in Caucasians more than in other races.
Other Chest Wall Deformities
As they grow, children also may develop a variety of single rib abnormalities that can cause bumps on the chest. Depending on the severity and the preference of patients, these may be corrected surgically or left alone once patients and families are reassured that no malignancy exists.
More complex genetic deformities include:
- Jeune syndrome, in which the rib cage is smaller and narrower than usual
- Poland syndrome, in which the chest muscle is underdeveloped or absent
