Tietze's syndrome
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| Sternocostal and interchondral articulations. Anterior view. (Costal cartilages visible on diagram.) | |
| ICD-10 | M94.0 |
| ICD-9 | 733.6 |
| DiseasesDB | 13112 |
| MeSH | D013991 |
Tietze's Syndrome is a benign inflammation of one or more of the costal cartilages, which are cartilaginous continuations of the ribs which connect each rib except the eleventh and twelth to the sternum.
It should not be confused with Tietz syndrome.
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[edit] Presentation
The primary presentation of the syndrome is significant, acute pain in the chest, along with tenderness and some swelling of the cartilages affected, which is commonly palpable on examination.
[edit] Cause
The cause is unknown, but repetitive minor trauma has been proposed as the most likely cause. Repeated vomiting resulting from morning sickness, or impacts to the chest during games such as football are two examples of repetitive injuries thought to be a cause of this syndrome.
[edit] Differential diagnosis
Although patients will often mistake the pain of Tietze's Syndrome for a myocardial infarction (or heart attack), the syndrome does not progress to cause harm to any organs.
Doctors often reassure patients that their symptoms are not associated with a heart attack, although they may need to treat the pain, which can in some cases be severe enough to cause significant but temporary disability to the patient.
