Absence of the Physiologic Dorsal Kyphosis
Authors: MARIA SERRATTO
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1963)

Article1 June 1963Absence of the Physiologic Dorsal KyphosisCardiac Signs and Hemodynamic ManifestationsMARIA SERRATTO, M.D., PAUL KEZDI, M.D.MARIA SERRATTO, M.D., PAUL KEZDI, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-58-6-938 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe absence of the normal kyphotic curvature of the thoracic spine—"straight back syndrome"—has recently been recognized as a cause of mistakenly diagnosed heart disease (1, 2). Patients who develop the syndrome often present with cardiac murmurs and radiographic evidence of seemingly increased transverse cardiac diameter, signs that mimic those of true heart disease. The condition appears to be similar to pectus excavatum, where mild hemodynamic alterations, generally not sufficient to produce cardiac decompensation, may be present (3-5). It is relevant to evaluate whether the "straight back syndrome" similarly can lead to alterations of cardiac hemodynamics. The purpose of this report...References1. RAWLINGS MS: The "straight back syndrome." A new cause of pseudoheart disease. Amer. J. Cardiol. 5: 333, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. RAWLINGS MS: Straight back syndrome: a new heart disease. Dis. Chest 39: 435, 1961. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. WACHTELRAVITCHGRISHMAN FWMMA: Relation of pectus excavatum to heart disease. Amer. Heart J. 52: 121, 1956. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. FABRICIUSDAVIDSENHANSEN JHGHT: Cardiac function in funnel chest; twenty-six patients investigated by cardiac catheterization. Danish Med. Bull. 4: 251, 1957. MedlineGoogle Scholar5. REUSCH CS: Hemodynamic studies in pectus excavatum. Circulation 24: 1143, 1961. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. MCKUSICK V: Cardiovascular Sound in Health and Disease, The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1958. Google Scholar7. PHILLIPSBURCH JHGE: Selected clues in cardiac auscultation. Amer. Heart J. 63: 1, 1962. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. LEATHAM A: Auscultation of the heart. Lancet 2: 703, 1958. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. MINHASGASUL KBM: Systolic clicks; clinical, phonocardiographic, and hemodynamic evaluation. Amer. Heart J. 57: 49, 1959. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. WASSERBURGERALT RWWJ: The normal RS-T segment elevation variant. Amer. J. Cardiol. 8: 184, 1961. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. CALLAHANBRANDENBURGSWAN JAROHJ: Pulmonary stenosis and ventricular septal defect with arteriovenous shunts. Circulation 12: 994, 1955. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. BERGOFSKYTURINOFISHMAN EHGHAP: Cardiorespiratory failure in kyphoscoliosis. Medicine 33: 263, 1959. CrossrefGoogle Scholar13. EPSTEIN BS: The Spine. A Radiological Text and Atlas, Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1962. Google Scholar14. ROESLER H: The relation of the shape of the heart to the shape of the chest. Amer. J. Roentgenol. 32: 464, 1934. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: MARIA SERRATTO, M.D.; PAUL KEZDI, M.D.Affiliations: Chicago, IllinoisFrom the Heart Station and the Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, and the Chicago Wesley Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Paul Kezdi, M.D., Chicago Wesley Memorial Hospital, Chicago 11, Illinois. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byStraight back syndrome as a clue to diagnosing asymptomatic congenital valvular heart disease and limiting the risk of weightliftingRelief of exertional dyspnea and spinal pains by increasing the thoracic kyphosis in straight back syndrome (thoracic hypo-kyphosis) using CBP® methods: a case report with long-term follow-upAn interesting case of straight back syndrome and review of the literatureThe "straight back" syndrome: Current perspective more often associated with valvular heart disease than pseudoheart disease: A prospective clinical, electrocardiographic, roentgenographic, and echocardiographic study of 50 patients.Straight Back SyndromeAbnormal Pulmonary Vasculature in an Asymptomatic ManDiastolic Murmur Due to Cardiac DistortionStraight back syndromePulmonary Function and Work Capacity in the Absence of Physiologic Dorsal Kyphosis of the SpineStraight back syndrome with pulmonary venous obstructionThe straight thoracic spine in cardiac diagnosisThe effect of external compression on the murmur and thrill of the straight back syndromeThe straight back syndromeThe Straight Back Syndrome 1 June 1963Volume 58, Issue 6Page: 938-945KeywordsCardiovascular therapyElectrocardiographyHeartHeart diseasesHemodynamicsHospital medicineKyphosis ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 June 1963 PDF downloadLoading ...