Pectus excavatum

Abstract

Pectus excavatum (Latin: excavated chest) is a depression of the anterior chest wall and is the most frequent chest wall deformity, occurring in 1 in 400 to 1 in 1,000 children.1 It constitutes about 90% of childhood chest wall deformities. It is to be distinguished from pectus carinatum, in which the sternum and costal cartilages protrude too far anteriorly, producing what has been called a "pouter pigeon chest" or "keel" chest. Although often present at birth, the depression may arise from a normal chest or progress in a congenital case at the time of puberty. Although the physiologic and psychologic consequences vary for a large number of patients, the lesion is troublesome enough that they welcome corrective surgery.