Pectus Excavatum

Pectus excavatum is a structural deformity of the front of the chest wall in which the sternum and rib cage are shaped abnormally, giving the chest a caved-in or sunken appearance. It may be present at birth or develop after puberty. The name is Latin for hollowed chest, and the condition is also called sunken chest syndrome, cobbler's chest or funnel chest. The most common form is a cup-shaped concavity at the lower end of the sternum, and the lowest ribs may flare outward. It can impair heart and lung function and cause chest and back pain, and people with it may experience serious psychosocial effects and avoid activities that expose the chest.