• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.915-918
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• 1998

The chest wall deformity associated with Poland's syndrome is a very rare anomaly which consists of congenital unilateral absence of the sternal head of the pectoralis major muscle and various abnormalities of the upper extremity. Other clinical features associated with Poland's syndrome include deficiency or absence of the breast and nipple, deficiency of subcutaneous fat and axillary hair, and abnormalities of costal cartilages and anterior ends of ribs. The origin remains uncertain, but is considered not to be hereditary. Poland's syndrome may pose a serious psychologic and cosmetic problem, early recognition and surgical correction may prove beneficial. A 37 year old patient with Poland's syndrome was encountered and underwent satisfactory surgical correction.