Isolated costal hyperostosis: a rare cause of severe hemothorax

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2007 Jan;23(1):25-7. doi: 10.1097/01.pec.0000248689.81186.b8.

Abstract

Chest pain due to hemothorax is rare. However, the possibility of traumatic hemothorax must always be suspected. We report a case of a 15-year-old girl with hemothorax after erosion of the intercostal artery of the left seventh rib by a histological proved solitary costal hyperostosis. She presented with a 2-month history of intermittent left-sided chest pain and 3 episodes of acute chest pain followed by dizziness and loss of consciousness. The chest radiograph revealed a large left pleural effusion and a thin-section chest computed tomography scan that was performed after drainage of the hemothorax indicated a spicule projecting inward into the chest from the left seventh rib. After thoracotomy, a solitary costal hyperostosis causing a traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the intercostal artery was removed by partial resection of the left seventh rib, the intercostals vessels were ligated, and the pseudoaneurysm excised.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aneurysm, False / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aneurysm, False / etiology*
  • Aneurysm, False / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Hemothorax / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hemothorax / etiology*
  • Hemothorax / surgery
  • Humans
  • Hyperostosis / complications*
  • Hyperostosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hyperostosis / surgery
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Ribs / blood supply*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed