Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016:2016:9306262.
doi: 10.1155/2016/9306262. Epub 2016 Nov 9.

Xiphoidectomy: A Surgical Intervention for an Underdocumented Disorder

Dirk Pieter Hogerzeil  1 , Klaas Albert Hartholt  1 , Mark Rem de Vries  1
Affiliations

Xiphoidectomy: A Surgical Intervention for an Underdocumented Disorder

Dirk Pieter Hogerzeil et al. Case Rep Surg. 2016.

Abstract

Two patients who presented with nonspecific thoracic and upper abdominal symptoms and tenderness of the xiphoid process are discussed. Both patients had undergone extensive examinations, but no source for their symptoms could be found. Plain chest radiographs revealed an anterior displacement of the xiphoid process in both patients. Physical examination confirmed this to be the primary source of discomfort. Anterior displacement of the xiphoid process may be the result of significant weight gain. Repeated trauma of the afflicted area, unaccustomed heavy lifting, exercise, and perichondritis are, amongst other causes, believed to contribute to the development of xiphodynia. Both patients were treated by performing a xiphoidectomy, resulting in disappearance of the symptoms.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Progression of the anterior displacement of the xiphoid process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Computerized tomography of xiphoid process protrusion.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Lipkin M., Fulton L. A., Wolfson E. A. The syndrome of the hypersensitive xiphoid. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1955;253(14):591–597. doi: 10.1056/nejm195510062531403. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Yapici Ugurlar O., Ugurlar M., Ozel A., Erturk S. M. Xiphoid syndrome: an uncommon occupational disorder. Occupational Medicine. 2014;64(1):64–66. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqt132. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Maigne J.-Y., Vareli M., Rousset P., Cornelis P. Xiphodynia and prominence of the xyphoid process. Value of xiphosternal angle measurement: three case reports. Joint Bone Spine. 2010;77(5):474–476. doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2010.04.009. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Simpson J. K., Hawken E. Xiphodynia: a diagnostic conundrum. Chiropractic and Osteopathy. 2007;15, article 13 doi: 10.1186/1746-1340-15-13. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Howell J. M. Xiphodynia: a report of three cases. Journal of Emergency Medicine. 1992;10(4):435–438. doi: 10.1016/0736-4679(92)90272-u. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources