clinical features
Last reviewed 09/2021
The features of pectus excavatum vary widely:
- features may be very mild and barely noticeable deformity to one in which there may be severe cardiac and respiratory insufficiency
- a sharp posterior concavity in the body of the sternum usually deepest just above the xiphoid process and extending to the sternomanubrial junction
- the sternum may be depressed close to the vertebral column
- heart often displaced to the left
- extent of cardiac depression is visible on CT scan