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Pectus deformities: tomographic analysis and clinical correlation

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Abstract

Objective

To assess, with computed tomography (CT) studies, features of anterior chest wall development that can be related to different types of pectus deformities.

Materials and methods

From 71 patients with pectus deformities and chest coronal CT scans, 48 (40 male and 8 female), with a mean age of 15.8 years (ranging from 5 years to 38.4 years) were selected and divided into five groups, according to clinical type of deformity and image quality. A similar CT study was performed in a sixth group of 14 individuals with no underlying pectus deformity (control group), six male and eight female, mean age 19.3 years, (range 10.8 years to 30.5 years), totaling 62 subjects. Tomographic studies were performed on a 64-section CT scanner, with parameters varied according to the subject’s body mass index (BMI). Coronal reconstructions were used to assess six features of the sternum and costal cartilages in the groups. Two other factors, a sternal index, created to estimate the sternal body width, and the sternocostal angles, were also studied.

Results

Feature I was noted in 13 patients and in no controls (P = 0.002), feature II in 39 patients and in one control (P = 0.000), feature III in 37 patients and in two controls (P = 0.002), and feature IV in two patients and in no controls (P = 0.002). The sternal index was significant to one group of patients.

Conclusion

The features studied and the index provide measurable and applicable data for the interpretation of anterior chest wall tomography, with possible implications for prognosis and treatment of different types of pectus deformities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Paediatric Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Centro Clínico Orthopectus, Hospital Regional da Asa Norte, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil

    Sydney Abrão Haje

  2. Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Centro Clínico Orthopectus, Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil

    Davi de Podestá Haje

  3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hospital Regional da Asa Norte, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil

    Moacir Silva Neto

  4. Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Clínica Villas Boas, Brasília, Brazil

    Guilherme de Souza e Cassia & Tito Lívio Mundim

  5. Department of Orthopaedics, Hospital Regional de Sobradinho, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil

    Rodrigo Coimbra Batista & Gustavo Reis Alves de Oliveira

  6. SMHN Q 2 Bl A Ed Clinicas salas 804-806, 70710-904, Brasília, DF, Brazil

    Sydney Abrão Haje

Authors
  1. Sydney Abrão Haje
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  2. Davi de Podestá Haje
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  3. Moacir Silva Neto
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  4. Guilherme de Souza e Cassia
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  5. Rodrigo Coimbra Batista
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  6. Gustavo Reis Alves de Oliveira
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  7. Tito Lívio Mundim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sydney Abrão Haje.

Additional information

This study was approved by the Ethics Review Committee of the Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil.

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Haje, S.A., Haje, D.P., Silva Neto, M. et al. Pectus deformities: tomographic analysis and clinical correlation. Skeletal Radiol 39, 773–782 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-010-0874-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-010-0874-8

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