Pectus Excavatum

Pectus excavatum is an abnormal, inward-growing sternum (breastbone). This creates a noticeable and sometimes severe indentation of your chest wall that involves four or five ribs per side.

Other names for pectus excavatum are sunken chest or funnel chest. This condition gives you less space in your chest, which can limit heart and lung function.

Pectus excavatum is a congenital condition, which means you’re born with it. But people often notice it during their early teen years.

Healthcare providers can correct pectus excavatum with minimally invasive surgery or traditional open surgery.

How common is pectus excavatum?

Pectus excavatum is the most common congenital (present at birth) abnormality that affects your chest wall. About 1 to 8 people per 1,000 have it. It happens more often in boys and people assigned male at birth (AMAB).