Costochondritis. A prospective analysis in an emergency department setting

Abstract

Costochondritis is common among patients with chest pain in an emergency department setting, with a higher frequency among women and Hispanics. It is associated with fibromyalgia in only a minority of cases. Patients with CC appear to have a lower frequency of acute myocardial infarction. Spontaneous resolution is seen in most cases at 1 year.

Tietze Syndrome and Idiopathic Costochondritis - Treatment Modalities, Recurrence Rates, Seasonality

“…[1,2,3] This may lead to serial presentations to different medical services, expensive, intensive investigations or patient depression and anxiety. [3][4][5] Idiopathic costochondritis (IC), also known as atypical chest pain or anterior chest wall syndrome, is a poorly understood disease characterized by chest pain and tenderness over the chondrosternal or costochondral joints.…”

“…[3][4][5] Idiopathic costochondritis (IC), also known as atypical chest pain or anterior chest wall syndrome, is a poorly understood disease characterized by chest pain and tenderness over the chondrosternal or costochondral joints. [1,4,6,7] Tietze syndrome (TS) resembles IC but differs by exhibiting a characteristic non-suppurative painful swelling over the rib cartilages. Although the current incidences of IC and TS are unknown, IC has been described as one of the most common causes of chest pain.…”

“…[1-3, 5, 8] Persistent chest pain that increases with deep breathing, coughing, or upper extremity movements is localized to the affected cartilage. [1,2,5] Any costal cartilage may be involved.…”

“…Pain is usually unilateral but may be bilateral. [1,7] Diagnosis of IC and TS is often based on the patient's history and physical examination;…”

“…[1,4,5] These clinically stable patients frequently receive non-specific diagnoses without follow-up. [3,4,5] The etiologies of both IC and TS are unclear.…”