Anatomy of the costal cartilage<unk>  typically presents unilaterally (one side), which is typically the left side. It affects primarily the 2nd to 5th ribs at the sternocostal and costochondral joints. The most commonly reported symptom of<unk>  is chest pain that is often exacerbated by movement and deep breathing. Pain is typically widespread and reproducible with palpation of the anterior (front) chest at the affected joints. Pain from<unk>  can vary between individuals, and is typically described as a sharp, aching, dull, or pressure-like pain. It may also be accompanied by a radiating pain to the shoulder, arm, front neck, or scapula (shoulder blade). The condition usually onsets gradually following repetitive coughing, strenuous physical activity, or trauma to the chest. Symptoms of<unk>  may be recurrent and last weeks to months; however, refractory cases of the condition can persist to over a year.<unk>  does not present with heat, erythema, or swelling of the affected area, the presence of which would indicate Tietze syndrome. Additionally, symptoms such as tachycardia, hypotension, radiating pain, shortness of breath, fever, nausea, or a productive cough are unrelated to<unk> . These signs warrant further investigation for other, more serious causes of chest pain.
Costochondritis
Pneumothorax
Osteochondritis
Pulmonary embolism
Athletic pubalgia
Fibromyalgia
Epicondylitis
Angina