SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE
Pectus deformities: tomographic analysis
and clinical correlation
Sydney Abrão Haje
&
Davi de Podestá Haje
&
Moacir Silva Neto
&
Guilherme de Souza e Cassia
&
Rodrigo Coimbra Batista
&
Gustavo Reis Alves de Oliveira
&
Tito Lívio Mundim
Received: 17 October 2009 / Revised: 29 December 2009 /Accepted: 5 January 2010 / Published online: 10 February 2010
#
ISS 2010
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.
Keywords Chest
.
Deformities
.
Imaging studies of pectus
deformities
.
Pectus carinatum
.
Pectus excavatum
.
Studies
on the development of the anterior chest wall by computed
tomography
This study was approved by the Ethics Review Committee of the
Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil.
S. A. Haje
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
D. P. Haje
Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Centro Clínico
Orthopectus, Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal,
Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Distrito Federal,
Brasília, Brazil
M. Silva Neto
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
Hospital Regional da Asa Norte, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do
Distrito Federal,
Brasília, Brazil
G. S. Cassia
:
T. L. Mundim
Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging,
Clínica Villas Boas,
Brasília, Brazil
R. C. Batista
:
G. R. A. Oliveira
Department of Orthopaedics, Hospital Regional de Sobradinho,
Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Distrito Federal,
Brasília, Brazil
S. A. Haje (*)
SMHN Q 2 Bl A Ed Clinicas salas 804-806,
70710-904 Brasília, DF, Brazil
e-mail: orthohaje@orthopectus.com.br
Skeletal Radiol (2010) 39:773–782
DOI 10.1007/s00256-010-0874-8