Anat Cell Biol.  2017 Mar;50(1):73-75. 10.5115/acb.2017.50.1.73.

Recognition of a rare intrathoracic rib with computed tomography: a case report

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Anatomical Sciences and Biology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
  • 2Department of Anatomical Science, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. shabnam.abdi62@yahoo.com

Abstract

One of the uncommon congenital variations is intrathoracic rib which a normal, a bifid, or an accessory rib lies within the thoracic cavity that is founded accidentally. Clinically, in most cases they are without symptoms; however, it may cause intrathoracic problems therefore it is important for radiologists and physicians to identify to prevent of excessive intervention and treatment during imaging diagnostic techniques of thoracic problems. In this report, we provide the case of a rare presentation of an intrathoracic rib in a 3-year-old boy arising from the inferior portion of a second rib based on findings from computed tomography. To our knowledge, this is only the second reported case of this type of intrathoracic rib that demonstrated with computed tomography.

Keyword

Intrathoracic rib; CT 3D reconstruction multislice CT; Anatomical variations

MeSH Terms

Child, Preschool
Humans
Male
Ribs*
Thoracic Cavity

Figure

  • Fig. 1 A 3-year-old boy with rare intrathoracic rib, coronal (A) and axial (B) view of chest computed tomography scan shows arising intrathoracic rib from the inferior border of the right second rib (arrows).

  • Fig. 2 Volume rendered 3D images (A) and chest radiography (B), a rare intrathoracic originating from the middle part of inferior border of right second rib (ossified, thin, long, and obliquely oriented) (arrows).


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