HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kurihara, Y. Articles by Hirata, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kurihara, Y. Articles by Hirata, K. Related Collections Musculoskeletal Radiology

The Ribs: Anatomic and Radiologic Considerations

¹ Departments of Radiology (Y.K., Y.K.Y., J.M., T.I.)
² Anatomy (K.H.), St Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-Ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa, Japan 216.

The ribs are essential structures of the osseous thorax and provide information that aids in the interpretation of radiologic images. Techniques for making precise identification of the ribs are useful in detection of rib lesions and localization of lung lesions. The big rib sign and the vertical displacement sign can be used to differentiate the right and left ribs on lateral chest radiographs. The clavicle, the xiphoid process, and the sternal angle may be used as anatomic landmarks for rib counting on computed tomographic scans. For rib counting on lateral chest radiographs, the sternal angle or the 12th rib may be used. Anatomic rib variants include developmental deformities, cervical rib, and short rib and may mimic true rib diseases. Detection of thoracic deformities such as funnel chest (pectus excavatum) and barrel-shaped thorax requires an awareness of the strong correlation between the transverse appearance of the thorax and costal shape. Shadows around the rib cage (eg, rib companion shadows, sharp lines along the lower margin of the ribs, rib overlying shadows) may mimic pleural and extrapleural disease on frontal chest radiographs. It is imperative that the radiologist be familiar with normal rib anatomy, normal rib variants, and the radiologic appearance of the ribs to prevent misdiagnosis.

Index Terms: Ribs, 471.13, 471.14, 471.92 • Thorax, CT, 471.1211 • Thorax, radiography, 471.11

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A R O'Connor and W E Morgan Radiological review of pneumothorax BMJ, June 25, 2005; 330(7506): 1493 - 1497. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Mann, D. W. Cugell, and D. W. Kamp Radiographic Opacities Chest, October 1, 2004; 126(4): 1388 - 1388. [Full Text] [PDF]