Tietze’s Syndrome in the emergency department: A rare etiology of atraumatic chest pain

Abstract

Tietze's Syndrome is an uncommon disorder that presents with painful, tender, non-suppurative swelling of the anterior chest wall. We report a case of a female patient who presented to the emergency department with a chief complaint of atraumatic chest pain and swelling of the anterior chest wall. After a thorough history and physical examination, as well as basic laboratory tests and chest radiography, she was diagnosed with Tietze's Syndrome. The expedient accurate diagnosis of Tietze's Syndrome is important for the physical and emotional well-being of a patient, and avoids overlooking more dangerous pathologies. Tietze's Syndrome needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient presenting with spontaneous swelling of the anterior chest.

A Retrospective, Single-Center Study Investigating the Effects of a Novel Miniature Wireless Spinal Cord Stimulation System for the Treatment of Chronic Back and Leg Pain

“…Investigative magnetic resonance imaging has revealed localized cartilage thickening, bone marrow edema, and increased gadolinium uptake in areas of thickened cartilage, subchondral bone marrow, joint capsule, and related ligamentous structures (14). Imaging studies support the presence of chronic inflammatory changes (9) which may lead to chronic pain and swelling that can mimic tumors, atypical chest pain, acute coronary syndrome, pneumonia, and other severe disease processes (10,(15)(16)(17)(18). Finally, chronic inflammatory changes may infiltrate surrounding tissues, leading to nerve root irritation and subsequent neuralgia, which may progress to radiculopathy affecting the neck, shoulders, and arms (12).…”

“…Finally, chronic inflammatory changes may infiltrate surrounding tissues, leading to nerve root irritation and subsequent neuralgia, which may progress to radiculopathy affecting the neck, shoulders, and arms (12). Resultant chronic neuropathy has been treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioid analgesics, and local nerve blocks (16,17); however, the role of implantable neurostimulators in TS has not been well described yet.…”

Tietze Syndrome in a 41-Year-Old Patient Without Significant Comorbidities

“…Tietze syndrome, first identified by Alexander Tietze in 1921, is a relatively uncommon condition characterized by painful swelling localized in the costo-sternal, sternoclavicular, or costochondral joints [ 1 , 2 ]. Its exact prevalence is not defined, often labeled as a rare disease.…”