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Pectus excavatum

Case contributed by Jack Ren
Diagnosis certain

Patient Data

Age: 70 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

There is a significant concave deformity of the anterior chest wall consistent with pectus excavatum best seen on lateral view. There is displacement of the heart towards left side, and the arch of aorta has been pushed towards the posterior chest wall.  The steep orientation of the ribs in pectus excavatum have been described as like heart-shaped in nature.

ct

There is significant depression deformity in the anterior chest wall suggestive of pectus excavatum. The Haller index is roughly 5 which is classified as significant pectus excavatum.  The heart is displaced towards left. 

Case Discussion

Surgical repair of pectus may be undertaken.  The commonest procedure is the NUSS ( named after Professor Nuss), which is a minimally invasive thorascopic technique to correct the deformity.

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