Pectus carinatum

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Ribcage

Bowed chest (pigeon breast)

Overview

Treatment

Pectus carinatum

Alternative Names:

Pigeon breast
Home Care:

No specific care is indicated for this condition.

Call your health care provider if:

Call your health care provider if you notice that your child's chest seems abnormal in shape.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

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The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting pectus carinatum may include:

When did you first notice this? Was it present at birth, or did it develop as the child grew?
Is it getting better, worse, or staying the same?
What other symptoms are also present?

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

An infant with pectus carinatum may have other symptoms and signs that, when taken together, define a specific syndrome or condition.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

Pulmonary function testing may be useful to determine the impact of the deformity on the performance of the heart and lungs. Laboratory studies such as chromosome studies, enzyme assays, x-rays, or metabolic studies may be ordered to confirm the presence of a suspected disorder.

INTERVENTION

Surgical correction is a possible treatment option. There have been some reports of improved exercise capability and normalization of lung perfusion scans after surgery.

Surgery may also have significant psychologic and social benefits for some children.