Radiographic findings in patients with clinical Tietze syndrome.

Thirteen patients with similar painful tender swelling in the region of the sternocostal joint (SCJ) are reported. X-ray tomography revealed changes which might explain the swelling in 11 patients. Three patients had anatomical variants of the sternum. One of these and a further two patients had marginal osteophytes at the affected SCJ, as signs of osteoarthrosis. Six patients with psoriasis, pustulosis palmoplantaris, or psoriasis in the family had past or present arthritis of the involved SCJ or the manubriosternal joint. Tomography was found to be a useful confirmatory examination in patients with clinical Tietze syndrome.