My ds 7 was getting ready for bed and he said something about his lungs hurting. I pulled up his chest and there was a huge lump on his chest. It is at least 3 inches across and 5-6 inches long. His chest just looks very mishapen. So we decided to go to the ER in case he dislocated a rib or something. They did chest x-rays and then a cat scan and it showed nothing. The diagnosis was developmental abnomaly of the chest wall. I still am confused as to how his chest would just suddenly be mishapen. The doctors seemed baffled also. That it looks like something he was born with. We told her it just happened. It has not been like that. In fact he had a cold in Dec and saw his ped with his shirt off of course. Anyway we are supposed to follow up in a couple of days. It is all just strange. I am very glad they did not find a growth or something. It still has me worried though. It just looks so strange and it just appeared. He assures us nothing happened no one hit him ect... Anyone ever expierence such a thing?

By Marg on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 06:48 am:

I'm praying for all of you.

Post us with the results.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 07:38 am:

Will keep you in my prayers.

By Mom2three1968 on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 08:03 am:

I'll pray for you too. ((hugs))

By Rayanne on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 08:07 am:

I'll keep you all in my thoughts and prayers as weel hun. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

By Insaneusmcwife on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 08:12 am:

{{{{hugs&prayers}}} let us know if you find out anything.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 09:04 am:

My son had the same thing, it became noticeable at around that age, and gradually, over the years, straightened itself out.

I forget what the term is for it, but the bones/ribs grow either outward or inward, it is fairly common. The docs he saw said growing outward, into a *lump* was nothing to worry about, as opposed to growing inward making a *hole* or *dent*, since that would put pressure on the internal organs in the chest. As he passed through puberty and grew to his full height, it gradually straightened out.

This might be what your DS has.

By Kernkate on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 09:18 am:

Ditto Karen, Brett's became noticeable at around 8.
Hope this is what it is for your DS also. I also forget the term they use for it.

By Reeciecup on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 09:19 am:

Beth I'm with you. I would be freaking out if this suddenly appeared on my dd's chest. A development abnormality implies it has gradually developed this way. For it to suddenly appear and be so large would concern me. I think I would seek out a second opinion from a specialist... an pediatric orthopedist (whichever doc deals with skeletal disorders) How is your ds doing today? Is the lump still there? {prayers}

By Beth on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 10:03 am:

He is fine this morning but I kept him home. He got back from the ER so late. The lump is definately still there. I am going to call his doctor in a little bit and see what he wants us to do. Thank you Karen and Kathy for reassuring me. I hope that is all that is. That seems to be what the ER docs thought but they admitted they had never seen anything like that. I will keep you updated. Thanks everyone.

By Shellyg on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 10:41 am:

Oh Beth, I will be thinking about you and your little guy. Keep us updated!

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 10:44 am:

Beth, our Ped told us to take Jeff to a Pediatric Orthopedist, if it would make us feel any better. So of course, we did! And he said the best thing to do was to just let him *grow it out*. He said if it was a huge issue for us, or if it became a true physical problem for Jeff, i.e. causing pain, etc., that surgery WAS an option, but that would have been major surgery, breaking the rib cage, etc. NOT something you want to put your child through unless it's absolutely necessary.

The worst thing about it when Jeff had it was he was very self conscious. And his chest looks completely normal now, but I think, in his mind's eye, he still sees his chest from 8 years ago, etc. because he sometimes makes remarks about it. We all keep telling him it's normal now, but for some reason he doesn't believe it. So for us, THAT was the biggest problem.