Does pectus excavatum become more sunken with age?

Funnel chest generally becomes more sunken with age, so timely treatment is recommended to control the progression of the condition. Specific analysis is as follows:

Funnel chest is a congenital disorder and a progressive condition that usually exists from birth. In affected individuals, the sternum along with the ribs caves inward and backward, forming a boat-like or funnel-like appearance. If not treated promptly, as the patient ages, the costal cartilage gradually lengthens, making the deformity increasingly apparent. Therefore, funnel chest tends to become more depressed with age and may compress the airway, leading to recurrent infections. It can also affect thoracic volume, impair normal lung development, and even compress the heart, causing cardiac distortion.

Patients with funnel chest are advised to seek prompt evaluation at a thoracic surgery department and receive targeted treatment under medical guidance to prevent worsening of the condition and serious adverse effects on health.