Tietze's syndrome

Definition

Tietze's syndrome is a benign condition which produces chest wall pain and localized swelling of the costosternal, sternoclavicular, or costochondral joints. It is described to be more common in young adults often following upper respiratory tract infections or excessive coughing. It does not appear to be an inflammatory disorder, and although the pathophysiology is unkown, could result from injury to costosternal, sternoclavicular, or costochondral articulations from severe or protracted coughing. It is distinguished from the more common costochondritis which is associated with more diffuse pain in the chest and is associated with multiple areas of tenderness in the chest wall. The differential diagnosis also includes fibromyalgia, chest wall involvement with the seronegative spondyloarthropathies and sternoclavicular hyperostosis.

Therapy

Pharmacological

Most patients recover spontaneously with symptomatic treatment with anti-inflammatory agents and/or analgesics.

Prognosis