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Topographic evaluation of sternal foramen patients with thoracic computed tomography

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Abstract

Purpose

In our study, we aimed to determine the topographic analysis of sternal foramen cases incidentally detected in patients underwent thoracic computed tomography.

Materials and methods

Patients aged 18 and over who were admitted to the thoracic surgery outpatient clinic for various reasons and underwent thoracic computed tomography (CT) between January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. Thoracic CT scans of all patients with sternal foramen were evaluated by applying 3D bone configuration to evaluate foramina in the sternum and ribs. The data obtained were analyzed statistically by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 21.0).

Results

Nine hundred and twelve patients were evaluated and sternal foramen prevalence was found to be 8.44% in our study. Of the 68 patients included in the study, 48 were male and 20 were female. The sternal foramen was localized in the corpus in 66.2% of the patients, whereas it was localized in xiphoid in 33.8%. Nine patients had scoliosis deformity and three patients had foramen in the rib.

Conclusion

Sternal foramen is a more common defect than thought, and should be kept in mind in clinical practice to prevent complications.

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Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Thoracic Surgey, Medical Faculty, Balikesir University, Cagis Campus, 10145, Balikesir, Turkey

    Mustafa Kuzucuoglu

  2. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Edirne Sultan 1. Murat State Hospital, Edirne, Turkey

    Ilkay Albayrak

Authors
  1. Mustafa Kuzucuoglu
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  2. Ilkay Albayrak
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Correspondence to Mustafa Kuzucuoglu.

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Kuzucuoglu, M., Albayrak, I. Topographic evaluation of sternal foramen patients with thoracic computed tomography. Surg Radiol Anat 42, 405–409 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-019-02416-3

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