Read about the journey that ended my 20 years of suffering with Tietze's Syndrome »Tests for Tietze’s Syndrome
Filed under: Tests | 3 Comments »There are several tests that can be undertaken to determine whether you have Tietze’s syndrome or not. Why test? Because there are several other serious diseases that can appear to be Tietze’s syndrome, including certain cancers.
Check out my article on Tietze’s Syndrome’s Causes to find out about other disorders that can mimic Tietze’s. Your doctor may recommend one of the following techniques to rule out other disorders:
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Computed tomography
(sometimes known as a CT or CAT scan) is one of the most exact ways to diagnose Tietze’s Syndrome, according to this article in the Journal of Computed Tomography.
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Xeroradiography
(a technique commonly used for mammograms) allows a doctor to see a complete picture of the chest wall and rule out other cause of your pain, such as tumors. According to this article, Xeroradiography is a “first choice” diagnostic technique for Tietzes.
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Ultrasound
Researchers Kamel and Kotob report that ultrasound should be the “first choice” screening procedure for Tietze’s Syndrome. the researchers followed 9 patients with Tietze’s and were able to show improvement in the condition after an injection of steriods. (For more information on treatment see this post).
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Blood tests
A sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein test can detect inflammation in Tietze’s which would be absent with costochondritis.
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MRI
(Magnetic resonance imaging) can also be used to diagnose Tietze’s syndrome, according to this research which studied the disorder in 12 patients. It’s an excellent way to diagnose both bone and cartilage disorders.
It’s clear from the research that there isn’t just one way to diagnose Tietze’s sydrome, but what is clear is that you should have at least one diagnostic imaging technique done to rule out other causes of your bone pain and swelling. The odds of your Tietze’s Syndrome being a tumor or skeletal tuberculosis might be small, but no one should suffer the anguish of not knowing exactly what is causing the pain. Insist that your doctor order one of the tests (an ultrasound can often be done in-office!), and get the peace of mind that you deserve!
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