Delayed sternal ossification in infants with congenital heart disease

A review of the lateral chest radiographs of 118 children less than two years old and suspected of having congenital heart disease yielded 11 who had delayed ossification of the mesosternum. In all 11 congenital heart disease was confirmed by cardiac catheterization, with the most frequent lesions being patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect, and atrial septal defect. A review of the lateral chest radiographs of 110 normal infants failed to demonstrate any case of delayed ossification of the sternum. If sternal segments do not appear ossified on chest radiographs of infants having no other clinical abnormalities, congenital heart disease should be suspected.