What is the cause of pectus excavatum

Pectus excavatum is a congenital chest wall deformity that is caused by growth abnormality of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone (sternum). This causes a depression of the sternum and the chest has a “sunken in” or “funnel chest” appearance. The condition affects more boys than girls.

Can pectus excavatum go away?

Pectus excavatum, sometimes called funnel chest, is an abnormal development of the rib cage where the breastbone grows inward. The causes of pectus excavatum aren’t completely clear. It’s not preventable but it can be treated. One of the ways to treat it is through exercise.

What age does pectus excavatum occur?

Pectus excavatum may not be noticeable at birth. By the age of two or three years, however, it is apparent. It can get worse during childhood and puberty.

What are the chances of being born with pectus excavatum?

Background: The most common congenital deformity of the chest wall is pectus excavatum, a malformation that is present in between 1 in 400 and 1 in 1000 live births and causes the body of the sternum to be displaced, producing a depression.

Is pectus genetic?

Pectus carinatum is a genetic disorder of the chest wall. It makes the chest jut out. This happens because of an unusual growth of rib and breastbone (sternum) cartilage . The bulging gives the chest a birdlike appearance.

Is pectus excavatum unattractive?

Introduction. Pectus excavatum (PE) is a congenital deformity essentially responsible for an unattractive aspect, much more rarely for compression problems.

How common is pectus excavatum in boys?

Pectus excavatum is a condition in which, instead of being level with the ribs, the breastbone (sternum) is ‘sunken’ so that the middle of the chest looks ‘caved in’. Pectus excavatum affects about one in 1,000 children and is four times as common in boys as in girls.

What happens if you don't treat pectus excavatum?

While many children with pectus excavatum don’t require any treatment at all, because their condition is so mild, a more severe case can press on the heart and lungs. However, the effects on the heart and lungs are usually minor and typically only occur with extreme exercise.

Is pectus excavatum more common in men?

Pectus deformities are the most common malformation of the chest wall, occurring in approximately 1 of every 150-1,000 births with a 3-to-1 male predominance. It is more common in the Caucasian race.

How do you get pectus excavatum?

Causes. There is no known cause for pectus excavatum. It can sometimes run in families — which suggests genetics may play a role. Pectus excavatum can also be associated with connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome.

Article first time published on

What does pectus excavatum look like?

Pectus excavatum is a condition in which a person’s breastbone is sunken into his or her chest. In severe cases, pectus excavatum can look as if the center of the chest has been scooped out, leaving a deep dent.

Is pectus excavatum bad?

Pectus excavatum is a problem with the cartilage that connects the bones of the chest. It looks like a dent in the centre of the chest. It also may be called pectus, funnel chest, or sunken chest. Pectus by itself isn’t dangerous.

When does pectus excavatum stop?

The deformity of the chest wall is often noticed at birth, but becomes more pronounced in adolescents. After the age of 18 years, the deformity usually does not change anymore.

What is pectus Carinatum associated with?

Pectus carinatum can also be associated with a variety of genetic disorders and syndromes , including Marfan syndrome, Noonan syndrome, Morquio syndrome, homocystinuria, osteogenesis imperfecta, Coffin-Lowery syndrome, cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, and certain chromosome abnormalities .

Why does my chest dip in?

Usually, the ribs and sternum go outward at the front of the chest. With pectus excavatum, the sternum goes inward to form a depression in the chest. This gives the chest a concave (caved-in) appearance, which is why the condition is also called funnel chest or sunken chest. Sometimes, the lower ribs might flare out.

Why does my son's chest sink?

Pectus excavatum (PECK-tuss ex-kuh-VAW-tum) is a condition that causes a child’s chest to look sunken or “caved in.” It happens because of a defect in the tough connective tissue (cartilage) that holds the bony part of the ribs to the breastbone. The cartilage pushes the breastbone (sternum) inward.

Can bad posture cause pectus excavatum?

Poor posture often accompanies pectus excavatum with shoulders slumped forward and the upper spine curved forwards, as well as other spinal problems such as scoliosis. Simple clinical description of severity of pectus is based on the depth the sternum is pushed inwards.

Can you live a normal life with pectus excavatum?

Pectus excavatum (funnel chest) is when your child’s breastbone is pressed inwards and they have a dip between their ribs. The deformity may be symmetrical (the same on both sides) or may be more prominent on one side of the chest. Some children with funnel chest will live a normal life.

Does pectus excavatum affect lung capacity?

Pectus excavatum can compromise lung and heart capacity, especially when the condition is severe, causing fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, and a fast heartbeat. In some cases, the proximity of the sternum and the pulmonary artery may cause a heart murmur.

Does pectus excavatum shorten life span?

There is no evidence that pectus excavatum limits life expectancy or causes progressive damage to the heart and lungs over time.

How do you fix pectus?

Pectus excavatum can be surgically repaired, but surgery is usually reserved for people who have moderate to severe signs and symptoms. People who have mild signs and symptoms may be helped by physical therapy. Certain exercises can improve posture and increase the degree to which the chest can expand.

Does pectus excavatum cause pain?

It could be present at birth or show up years later during adolescence. The reason you feel pain and fatigue with pectus excavatum is that your concave chest wall is crowding your heart and lungs, causing these other potential symptoms as well: Low tolerance for exercise. Heart palpitations.

Does pectus excavatum require surgery?

Pectus excavatum does not require any treatment. The condition does not present a danger to the child. Surgical repair is an elective procedure and requires insurance approval before proceeding. Repair is typically done in the teenage years, once the pubertal growth spurt is underway or completed.

How do you fix pectus excavatum without surgery?

Mild to moderate pectus excavatum may be improved by a focused exercise regimen and/or a vacuum bell approach. The vacuum bell is a non-surgical treatment option for patients with mild or moderate pectus excavatum. While this procedure is non-surgical, it should be used under the supervision of our care team.

How do I get rid of pectus carinatum?

Pectus carinatum can be treated with either a brace or surgery. If the child’s bones are still growing, a brace can help flatten the chest. The brace is worn up to 23 hours a day and symptoms usually begin improving in just a few months. For severe pectus carinatum, surgery can repair the defect.

Is pectus excavatum a pre existing condition?

Pectus excavatumSpecialtyOrthopedics

What type of doctor treats pectus carinatum?

Pectus Carinatum Treatment Physicians who treat patients with pectus carinatum are pediatric surgeons. However, surgery is rarely necessary. About 95 percent of people with pectus carinatum can be treated using a customized chest-wall brace.