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Eur J Pediatr Surg 2022; 32(04): 316-320
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1729898
Original Article

The Epidemiology behind Pectus Excavatum: Clinical Study and Review of the Literature

Katja Kloth
1   Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
Stefan Klohs
2   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
Jasmin Bhullar
2   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
Michael Boettcher
2   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
Maja Hempel
1   Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
Julian Trah    *
2   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
Konrad Reinshagen‡   *
2   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Abstract

Introduction Pectus excavatum (PE) is a funnel-shaped indentation of the sternum and is the most common deformity of the chest wall. It is associated with syndromic diseases but can occur as an isolated form. Familial occurrence is assumed in up to 40% of cases, but large-scale studies are lacking. Most of the data are obtained from case reports which postulate autosomal recessive, dominant with reduced penetrance, X-linked, and multifactorial patterns of inheritance. No monogenetic cause has been identified to date. This study was designed to provide basic information on the epidemiology, family history, and comorbidity for a large cohort of isolated PE and to show that there is an inheritance pattern for PE that indicates a genetic background.

Materials and Methods A retrospective study was done using a paper-based questionnaire for all PE patients attending two specialized centers for chest wall deformities. Patients with isolated PE were included and asked to provide information on family history and comorbidities.

Results Family history was available for 78 patients. A positive family history was found in 42 patients (54%) with a total of 53 affected family members.

Conclusion The described family histories indicate an underlying genetic cause for PE. Identification of the genetic factors may contribute to characterize patients who are at risk of inheriting isolated PE.

Keywords

pectus excavatum - epidemiology - inheritance

* Both the authors contributed equally.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 28 December 2020

Accepted: 06 April 2021

Article published online:
14 June 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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