Xiphodynia An uncommon cause of anterior chest wall pain, xiphodynia is often misdiagnosed as pain of cardiac or upper abdominal origin. Xiphodynia syndrome is a constellation of symptoms consisting of severe intermittent anterior chest wall pain in the region of the xiphoid process that worsens with overeating, stooping, and bending. The patient may report a …
Serratus Anterior Muscle Syndrome Chest wall pain syndromes are commonly encountered in clinical practice. Some occur with relatively greater frequency and are more readily identified by the clinician, such as costochondritis and Tietze syndrome. Others occur so infrequently that they are often misdiagnosed, resulting in a less-than-optimal outcome. Serratus anterior muscle syndrome is one such …
Slipping Rib Syndrome Encountered more frequently in clinical practice since the increased use of across-the-chest seat belts and airbags, slipping rib syndrome is often misdiagnosed, leading to prolonged suffering and excessive testing for intraabdominal and intrathoracic pathological conditions. Slipping rib syndrome is a constellation of symptoms consisting of severe knife-like pain emanating from the lower …
Winged Scapula Syndrome Winged scapula syndrome is an uncommon cause of musculoskeletal pain of the shoulder and posterior chest wall. Caused by paralysis of the serratus anterior muscle, winged scapula syndrome begins as a painless weakness of the muscle with the resultant pathognomonic finding of winged scapula. As a result of dysfunction secondary to paralysis …
Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment is an uncommon cause of anterior abdominal wall pain that is a frequently overlooked clinical diagnosis. Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome is a constellation of symptoms consisting of severe knife-like pain emanating from the anterior abdominal wall, associated with the physical finding of point tenderness over the …
Acute Intermittent Porphyria Acute intermittent porphyria is an uncommon cause of abdominal pain that frequently confounds the diagnostic efforts of even the most astute clinician. The porphyrias are disorders of heme synthesis that can produce a wide range of clinical symptoms. Many different types of porphyrias occur, each of which manifests in a distinct clinical …
Radiation Enteritis As cancer patients live longer, clinicians are being called on with greater frequency to manage the side effects and complications of cancer therapy. One such complication is radiation enteritis. This complication of radiation therapy can occur after radiation to the abdomen or pelvis. Early symptoms of radiation enteritis are due to mucosal edema …