Read about the journey that ended my 20 years of suffering with Tietze's Syndrome »New Research: Diagnosing Tietze’s Requires Multiple Tests
Filed under: Tests | 10 Comments »I would have thought that as more is known about Tietze’s syndrome, diagnostic tools would improve. However, new research just published in the May-Jun 2009 issue of Clinical Experimental Rheumatology had a surprising conclusion: a combination of X-ray, CT, MRI and nuclear medicine is the best way to diagnose the disease and rule out other disorders.
The team of Italian researchers evaluated 30 patients with Tietze’s syndrome, SAPHO syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis and other costal joint disorders. Each test, the researchers found, gave only a partial clue as to the true nature of the disease. Surprisingly, no one test came out on top.
The idea of multiple tests doesn’t completely go against past research in this area. For the past decade or two there has been a lot of debate about which test is the best. In my article on Tests for Tietze’s, you can see that many researchers favor one technique, and three techniques are heralded as “the best” by at least one researcher.
Multiple tests make sense to diagnose Tietze’s Syndrome, but there are risks and benefits with every diagnostic tool–including financial constraints. My advice? Find an excellent rheumatologist at a teaching hospital (an MD PhD)–they should be up on current research and will better be able to advise you on current thinking as it crops up. This is especially true with a newly researched disease like Tietze’s syndrom.
Reference:
Guglielmi G, Cascavilla A, Scalzo G, Salaffi F, Grassi W. Imaging of sternocostoclavicular joint in spondyloarthropaties and other rheumatic conditions. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2009 May-Jun;27(3):402-8.
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Hello Steph, I have struggled with this horrible syndrome since 2005. I work as a photographer, and after much thought I believe the heavy lifting and back and forth montions might have caused my Tietze Syndrome. Back in 2005 I thought it could have been heart related because of the fact I was born premature with underdeveloped heart and lungs, but thankfully the tests were negetive. From what I have noticed the pain comes and goes, it normally lasts a few seconds to a few minutes, it’s mostly in my left pectoral muscle, but it has occured on my right side and in the center. The pain is sometimes sharp, and other times is dull and gnawing. Also, my chest also feels tender when I touch or press on it (lately I find it hard to wear tight fitting shirts or to wear my shoulder strap on my seatbelt). It is normally worse in cold weather as well. To get the pain to stop I usually massage the area or apply heat. Currnetly, my doctor thinks it is all anxiety related (and I do suffer from anxiety) but these pains also occur when I’m clam, anxiety from what I’ve seen makes the pain even worse. But I’m going to continue to ask him about Teitze Syndrome and what can be done. If you want to contact me and either ask me more questions or give me some feedback Steph, my e-mail address is Strader327@aol.com. Thank you for your time.
Derrick,
Your story sounds all too familiar. I’m glad you found the site–please let me know if your doc comes up with anything that works,
Best regards,
Stephanie
Thanks for responding Steph, if it’s ok could you help answer a couple of questions? First, if I do indeed have Tietze Syndrome, would there be any visible redness or swelling on my chest? Also when I go back to the doctor, is it possible for them to feel the swollen cartlidge when they examine my rib cage and chest wall? And finally if I do have Tietze and have had it for five plus years, is it possible that my ribs could heal up and I won’t have this pain the rest of my life? Thank you greatly for your time and help. Take care.
“Is it possible for them to feel the swollen cartlidge when they examine my rib cage and chest wall?”
Yes, possibly. The swelling can sometimes be difficult to detect, and just because there’s swelling, it doesn’t definitively mean Tietze’s. that’s why ultrasound and CAT scans are recommended for a diagnosis.
“Is it possible that my ribs could heal up and I won’t have this pain the rest of my life?”
Yes, it is possible. My pain lasted about 15 years until I became vegan. Now, I don’t even get a twinge. I’ve heard of many similar stories.
Good luck!
hi im adam im 24 now had theses pains since 2008 i kept going in and out of hospitals and docs had test then tonight i saw a doc he tapped my chest and told me what i got and told me to live with this, i am scared that it will be with me for the rest of my life and i cant clear it, my job is demanding so always on my feet. could there be a way of comms other than using this my name is adam and number is 07786193412
Adam,
I am working on putting a forum on this blog. I’ll have it up in the near future, hopefully. The pain does get more manageable. I know it doesn’t seem like that now, and everyone who gets this thing is scared at first. But it DOES get better. Honest
Stephanie
Is fever ever a symptom and can the chest pain come and go?
Hi Mary,
Yes, the pain can come and go, and a fever can be an initial sign of Tietze’s. As far as I know, it usually occurs during the onset of the disease. See here:
http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/36/5/560.full.pdf
Stephanie
Hi, I’m 18 and i’ve had TS since i was 14. I went to the doctors when I first had chest pains and my GP diagnosed it as TS. Since then it’s been on and off over the years but recently, it’s started to get worse. I’ve also started to suffer shortness of breath and I have never had asthma or breathing problems before. Do you think TS could possibly be causing this? Thank You.
Abby,
Yes, it can make you feel short of breath because you can’t fully expand your lungs. Learn to breathe through your stomach: that should help.
Best,
Stephanie