Pediatric Bifid Rib

  • Etiology: Congenital
  • Imaging: Posterior or lateral bifurcation of the rib into two separate rib heads
  • DDX:
  • Complications:
  • Treatment:
  • Clinical: Most common cause of new hard painless chest wall mass

Radiology Cases of Bifid Rib

CT of bifid rib
AP (left) and lateral (right) 3D CT without contrast of the chest shows an anterolateral bifurcation of the right 4th rib into two separate rib heads.
CXR of a bifid rib
CXR AP at 1 day of life (above) shows the right third rib to bifurcate starting posteriorly into two separate ribs. CXR AP today at 16 years of age (below) clearly shows the two heads of the right third rib.