Symptoms Associated With Noonan Syndrome

Pectus Excavatum Or Carinatum

Pectus excavatum or carinatum may develop for some patients with Noonan syndrome. Pectus excavatum is a sunken chest, and pectus carinatum is a type of chest protrusion called funnel chest. Most patients with pectus excavatum have a mild dent in the chest and experience only minor symptoms, if any. For patients with more severe cases of pectus excavatum, the breastbone tends to compress the heart and lungs. This compression often results in wheezing, coughing, chest pain, fatigue, and a decreased tolerance for exercise. Heart palpitations, a rapid heartbeat, or a heart murmur may also be present. Pectus carinatum causes the chest to jut out, and patients with this condition may experience fatigue, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath. Both pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum can usually be diagnosed with a physical exam. Patients may also have a chest x-ray, electrocardiogram, and CT or MRI scans to check for internal damage to the heart or lungs. Surgery may be advised for severe cases of pectus excavatum. Patients with pectus carinatum may be offered a chest brace that can push the chest wall back to a normal position. In some cases, surgical procedures such as the Ravitch procedure might be recommended.