Pectus Carinatum

Overview

At Mayo Clinic, patients with pectus carinatum receive comprehensive care from a specialized medical team experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of this chest wall deformity. A team of Mayo specialists from Pulmonary Medicine, Pediatrics, Cardiology, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation work with thoracic (chest) surgeons to evaluate and treat patients with pectus carinatum. Patients are thoroughly evaluated by the treatment team and genetic counselors (if necessary) to determine the most appropriate treatment plan.

Pectus carinatum — before surgery

Pectus carinatum — after surgery

Mayo Clinic's thoracic surgery practice is one of the largest in the United States, performing thousands of procedures each year.

Adult and pediatric thoracic surgeons at Mayo Clinic have extensive training and experience in pectus carinatum treatment, including surgical repair. Open chest surgery to correct the pectus carinatum deformity can be safely performed with few complications and involves a short post-surgery hospital stay. Mayo also offers patients a special nonsurgical pressure brace treatment option.

At Mayo Clinic, patients undergoing surgical and nonsurgical treatments receive thorough follow-up care to ensure that the appropriate correction results are achieved to improve the appearance of the chest wall. Read more about pectus carinatum treatment.

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About Pectus Carinatum

Pectus carinatum is a birth defect characterized by a protruding breastbone (sternum). It occurs in one in 1,500 children, predominantly in males. The defect arises in the fetal development stage during pregnancy, causing the cartilage that secures the ribs to the breastbone to abnormally grow out from the chest.

Patients with pectus carinatum can have difficultly completely exhaling air from their lungs and experience short, fast breathing and reduced exercise endurance. Pectus carinatum deformities may not be noticeable until an individual reaches the adolescent growth spurt stage, from ages 11 to 14.