What is COSTOCHONDRITIS?

Costochondritis is a chest wall pain caused by inflammation of the costal cartilage or the area where the ribs meet the sternum, known as sternal articulations. Costochondritis is a benign cause of chest wall pain that results from inflammation of the costal cartilage, the cartilage that connect the ribs to the sternum. Patients often present with chest pain; therefore, other causes of chest pain must be excluded with history and physical exam.