What is chicken chest?
Disease description:
I feel very unwell myself, just uncomfortable all over, and the examination results say it's pigeon chest. I don't really understand it myself. I'd like to ask, what kind of disease is pigeon chest?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Pectus carinatum is a disease characterized by abnormal development of the thoracic cage, mainly manifested as protrusion of the sternum, giving the chest a shape similar to that of a chicken's chest. This condition commonly appears during growth and development in children or adolescents and may be related to genetic factors, vitamin D deficiency, and uneven growth at the junction of the ribs and sternum.
Symptoms of pectus carinatum vary in severity. Mild cases may present with no obvious symptoms, only changes in the shape of the thoracic cage. In severe cases, protrusion and subsequent depression of the anterior chest wall may occur, leading to reduced breathing amplitude, shortness of breath, dyspnea, fatigue, and even impaired cardiopulmonary function, resulting in respiratory tract infections, asthma, and other conditions. In addition, pectus carinatum may cause psychological burdens such as inferiority and lack of self-confidence.
In terms of treatment, appropriate supplementation of vitamin D and calcium can help prevent and treat pectus carinatum. For patients with severe deformities affecting cardiopulmonary function, surgical treatment may be considered, such as sternal depression procedure, sternal turnover procedure, or minimally invasive surgery for pectus carinatum. Mild cases generally do not require special treatment but need close observation and follow-up.
