Bell-shaped thorax

What it means

The rib cage has the shape of a wide mouthed bell. That is, the superior portion of the rib cage is constricted, followed by a convex region, and the inferior portion of the rib cage expands again to have a large diameter.

A bell-shaped thorax is a non-specific finding. In newborns, bell-spahed thorax can indicate a history of intrauterine neuromuscular abnormalities.

Rare diseases that can present with this11

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Bell-shaped chest · Constricted, bell-shaped thorax · Narrow, bell-shaped thorax