This condition is usually caused by injury to the costochondral joint, such as from trauma or surgery. Sometimes the trauma can be due to something that seems minor at the time, like a severe coughing episode. Costochondritis can be diagnosed on the basis of symptoms and identified by CT imaging. The problem areas show up as soft-tissue swelling along with underlying fragmentation of cartilage and destruction of bone. It's important to know the difference.
Costochondritis pain is usually sharp and localized, and can be of prolonged duration.
Movement of the chest wall in heavy breathing or coughing as well as pressing on the ribs with the hands can bring on the pain. Angina pain is diffuse and dull, of short duration and can radiate out from the chest, often to the left shoulder and upper arm. Angina pain is often described as a tightness, squeezing, burning, indigestion-like, etc. Treatment is straightforward but often difficult to follow closely. Infection may require draining of the site.