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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2016; 26(02): 185-194
DOI: 10.4103/0971-3026.184407
Cardiothoracic Imaging

MDCT evaluation of sternal variations: Pictorial essay

Chary Duraikannu
VRR Scan –Department of Radiology (A Unit of VRR Diagnostics Services Pvt Ltd), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
,
Olma V Noronha
VRR Scan –Department of Radiology (A Unit of VRR Diagnostics Services Pvt Ltd), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
,
Pushparajan Sundarrajan
VRR Scan –Department of Radiology (A Unit of VRR Diagnostics Services Pvt Ltd), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Abstract

Sternal variations and anomalies have been identified in the past during autopsy or cadaveric studies. Recently, an increasing number of minor sternal variations have been reported with the advent of multidetector computed tomography (CT). Although there are many sternal variations that occur with varying appearance and prevalence, most of them are not recognized or are underreported during routine imaging of thorax. Identification of sternal variations is important to differentiate from pathological conditions and to prevent fatal complications prior to sternal interventions like marrow aspiration or acupuncture. This article aims to describe the minor and asymptomatic sternal variations by multidetector CT and their clinical significance.

Keywords

Indian population - multidetector computed tomography - sternal cleft - sternal foramen - sternal variations - suprasternal ossicle - xiphoid foramen


Publication History

Article published online:
30 July 2021

© 2016. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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