Funnel chest is a chest wall deformity characterized by depressed sternum, which needs to be diagnosed based on medical history, clinical symptoms, physical examination, imaging examination, and other tests.
1. Medical history: there is a family history of funnel chest or a history of Marfan syndrome.
2. Clinical symptoms: funnel chest is often characterized by recurrent respiratory infections, which may be accompanied by panic, palpitations, chest pain, easy fatigue and cough. Due to the serious appearance of deformity is often accompanied by some psychological problems, resulting in depression or social disorders.
3. Physical examination: the patient’s chest can be seen to be sunken inward in the shape of a funnel on visual examination, and the elasticity and compliance of the thorax decreases. Signs such as chest hunching, abdominal protrusion and rib margin ectropion may appear.
4. Imaging examination: positive and lateral chest radiographs can assist in the diagnosis of funnel chest, positive chest radiographs can understand the position of the heart shadow, and lateral chest radiographs can see the sternum sinking backward, and the posterior sternal space narrowing. Chest CT can visualize the severity of chest wall deformity and cardiopulmonary compression for diagnosing the disease, assessing the severity of the disease and guiding the treatment.
5. Other tests: such as electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, pulmonary function test, etc.
If funnel chest is suspected, it is recommended to consult a doctor in time, complete the relevant examinations and actively cooperate with the doctor for treatment.