Non-invasive Clinical Pectus Index as a Measurement of Severity in Pectus

Pectus excavatum (PE), the most common congenital chest wall deformity, requires surgical repair when the degree of deformity is severe. Currently, the Pectus Index (PI) is used to classify PE severity. Calculation of the PI requires cross-sectional imaging of the chest, usually with computed tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), to obtain the necessary measurements. However, CT delivers a high dose of ionizing radiation, which carries cumulative long-term risks of malignancy and MRI can be costly. The purpose of this study is to develop a method whereby accurate chest wall measurements can be obtained to quantify PE severity without the need for cross-sectional imaging.