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The elongated, central portion of the sternum is the body. The first ribs also attach to the manubrium. This is the site of the sternoclavicular joint, between the sternum and clavicle. The clavicular notch is the shallow depression located on either side at the superior-lateral margins of the manubrium. This can be easily felt at the anterior base of the neck, between the medial ends of the clavicles. The top of the manubrium has a shallow, U-shaped border called the jugular (suprasternal) notch. The manubrium is the wider, superior portion of the sternum. It consists of three parts: the manubrium, body, and xiphoid process. The sternum is the elongated bony structure that anchors the anterior thoracic cage. The last two pairs of false ribs are also known as floating ribs (11–12). The ribs are classified as true ribs (1–7) and false ribs (8–12). The sternum consists of the manubrium, body, and xiphoid process. The ribs are anchored posteriorly to the 12 thoracic vertebrae. Once the growth is small enough, they may then remove it surgically.Figure 7.32 Thoracic Cage The thoracic cage is formed by the (a) sternum and (b) 12 pairs of ribs with their costal cartilages. In these cases, your doctor may choose to shrink them using chemotherapy or radiation therapy. In some cases, surgical removal isn’t possible or may be too dangerous. Your doctor may suggest surgery to remove or biopsy abnormal growths. Determining the origin of the cancer will you’re your doctor whether it started in the rib or spread from another area of the body. If bone cancer is causing the pain, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you based on the type of cancer and origin of the cancer. This can increase your risk of pneumonia. However, these wraps are only necessary in rare cases because the tightness of the compression wrap makes it difficult to breathe. The compression wrap holds the area tightly to prevent further injury and greater pain. A compression wrap is a large, elastic bandage that wraps around your chest. If over-the-counter medicine doesn’t relieve pain from an injury, your doctor can prescribe other medications, as well as a compression wrap. If you’re in significant pain, you can also take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). If the rib cage pain is due to a minor injury, such as a pulled muscle or bruise, you can use a cold compress on the area to reduce swelling. The recommended treatment for rib cage pain depends on the cause of the pain. What are the treatment options for rib cage pain? The image from this camera will highlight any bone abnormalities. Your doctor will then use a special camera to scan your body for the tracer. For this examination, they will inject you with a small amount of radioactive dye called a tracer. Your doctor will order a bone scan if they feel that bone cancer may be causing the pain.
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If you’re experiencing chronic pain, your doctor may order a bone scan. An MRI scan gives the doctor a detailed view of your rib cage and surrounding muscles, organs, and tissue. If any abnormalities, such as an abnormal growth, show up on your X-ray or during your physical examination, your doctor will order a soft tissue imaging scan, such as an MRI. A chest X-ray can show evidence of fractures or bone abnormalities. If your pain started after an injury, your doctor might order an imaging scan such as an X-ray. The type of pain you’re experiencing as well as the area of pain can help your doctor determine which tests will help them make a diagnosis. When talking to your doctor, describe the type of pain you’re experiencing and the movements that make the pain worse.
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