A grandmother brings her 13-year-old grandson to you for evaluation. She noticed last week when he took off his shirt that his breastbone seemed collapsed. He seems embarrassed and tells you that it has been that way for quite a while. He states he has no symptoms from it and he just tries not to take off his shirt in front of anyone. He denies any shortness of breath, chest pain, or lightheadedness on exertion. His past medical history is unremarkable. He is in sixth grade and just moved in with his grandmother after his father was deployed to the Middle East. His mother died several years ago in a car accident. He states that he does not smoke and has never touched alcohol. On examination you see a teenage boy appearing his stated age. On visual examination of his chest, you see that the lower portion of the sternum is depressed. Auscultation of the lungs and heart are unremarkable. What disorder of the thorax best describes your findings?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Funnel chest is caused by a depression in the lower portion of the sternum. If severe enough there can be compression of the heart and great vessels, leading to murmurs on auscultation. This is usually only a cosmetic problem, but corrective surgeries can be performed if necessary.

A Grandmother Brings Her 13-Year-Old Grandson to You for Evaluation