Tietze's syndrome
Tietze's syndrome
Costochondritismay be confused with a separate condition called Tietze's syndrome. Both conditionsinvolveinflammation of the costochondral joint and can cause very similar symptoms.
However, Tietze's syndrome is much less common andoften causes chest swelling, which may last after any pain and tenderness has gone.
Costochondritisalso tends to affect adults aged 40 or over, whereas Tietze's syndrome usually affects young adults under 40.
As the conditions are very similar, most of the information belowalso applies to Tietze's syndrome.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Costochondritis is the medical term for inflammation of the cartilage that joins your ribs to your breastbone (sternum).
Tietze's syndrome
Costochondritismay be confused with a separate condition called Tietze's syndrome. Both conditionsinvolveinflammation of the costochondral joint and can cause very similar symptoms. However, Tietze's
Signs and symptoms
When the costochondral joint becomes inflamed it can result in sharp Chest pain and tenderness, which may develop gradually or start suddenly. The pain may be made worse by: a particular posturesu
When to seek medical help
It can be difficult to tell the difference between thechest pain associated with costochondritis and pain caused by more serious conditions, such asa heart attack . However, a heart attack usually ca
Causes of costochondritis
Inflammation is the body's natural response to infection, irritation or injury. It's not known exactlywhy the costochondral joint becomes inflamed, but in some cases it's been linked to: severe cou
Diagnosing costochondritis
If you have symptoms ofcostochondritis, your GP will examine and touch the upper chest area around your costochondral joint. They'll ask you when and where your pain occurs and look at your recent med
Treating costochondritis
Costochondritisoften gets better after a few weeks, but self-help measures and medication can manage the symptoms. Self-help Costochondritis can be aggravated by any activity that places stress on y
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