Retrosternal pain

Introduction Post-sternal pain is often seen in the clinic. It refers to the pain between the neck and the lower edge of the thorax (the middle or the lateral side of the chest). The nature of the pain can be various. It is one of the common symptoms, usually caused by chest diseases (including chest wall disease). Caused by). After some people have post-sternal pain, they often suspect coronary heart disease and blindly treat them with coronary heart disease. In fact, there are many causes of post-sternal pain. Cardiovascular, pulmonary, mediastinal, esophageal, etc. may be sick. Once the sternal pain occurs, you should go to the hospital as soon as possible, and confirm the diagnosis with clinical symptoms.

Cause

Post-sternal pain is often seen in the clinic. After some patients have post-sternal pain, they often suspect coronary heart disease and blindly treat them as coronary heart disease. In fact, there are many causes of post-sternal pain. Post-sternal pain is more common. In addition to coronary heart disease, there are many causes of such pain, including angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, viral infection, mediastinal diseases such as acute mediastinal inflammation, mediastinal emphysema. , esophageal diseases such as esophagitis, esophageal cancer.

an examination

Related inspection

Chest flat chest chest perspective chest MRI chest CT examination chest B-ultrasound

Post-sternal pain, usually referred to as pain in the area above the xiphoid in the anterior sternum. Or pain between the neck and the lower edge of the thorax (median or lateral side of the chest).

1, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction: this pain is often paroxysmal swelling and pain, there is a clear chest tightness, and can be pulled or radiated to the shoulders and other parts, common in the elderly, often accompanied by hypertension Physical labor, emotional excitement, overeating, alcohol abuse, cold attacks, strenuous exercise, etc. can be induced.

2, viral infection: This chest pain often has sore throat, fever, loss of appetite and other prodromal symptoms, followed by sudden severe pain after the sternum, and often exacerbated by coughing, sneezing, turning the body, the pain often disappears within 3 to 7 days.

3, mediastinal disease: mainly due to mediastinal tumor compression of local nerves caused by persistent pain, and may be accompanied by breathing difficulties, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and other symptoms. Can also be seen in acute mediastinal inflammation, post-sternal pain, can be accompanied by high fever, chills and other symptoms.

4, esophageal diseases: such as esophagitis, can also cause post-sternal pain. This pain is often exacerbated by eating or starving, accompanied by symptoms such as pantothenic acid, belching, and loss of appetite.

Differential diagnosis

It needs to be distinguished from the following symptoms:

1, thoracic pain: thoracic pain is the main clinical manifestations of thoracic spondylosis, common thoracic vertebrae hyperplasia, spinal stenosis; thoracic vertebral compression fracture, dislocation, scoliosis, fascia incarceration; and thoracic disc herniation.

2, side rib pain: experts do not know what causes rib pain, it is generally considered to be related to daily life, such as exercise beyond the ability, improper sucking, dehydration or exercise immediately after meals.

3, sternal tenderness: The most obvious part of the sternal tenderness in most patients is in the lower part of the sternum, which is equivalent to the sternum of the fourth and fifth intercostal space. Post-sternal pain, usually referred to as pain in the area above the xiphoid in the anterior sternum. Or pain between the neck and the lower edge of the thorax (median or lateral side of the chest).

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