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Xiphodynia
Other names	Xiphoidalgia
Position of the xiphoid process (shown in red).
Symptoms	Pain, tenderness, and discomfort in upper abdomen, chest, and throat.
Diagnostic method	Based on symptoms after ruling out other possible causes, and palpation of the xiphoid area

Xiphodynia or Xiphoidalgia is thought to be a rare musculoskeletal syndrome that involves referred pain referred from the xiphisternal joint or the structures attached to the xiphoid process. Digital examination of the xiphoid process reproduces symptoms. Xiphodynia is in fact a relatively common condition which will be missed unless considered in the differentials list. It is caused by inflammation of the junction between the sternum and xiphoid process.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of Xiphodynia include:

• Cardiac chest pain
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea
• Radiating pain into the back, neck, shoulders, arms and chest wall

References

1. ^ Simpson, J. Keith; Hawken, Erin (2007). "Xiphodynia: A diagnostic conundrum". Chiropractic & Osteopathy. 15 (1): 13. doi:10.1186/1746-1340-15-13. PMC 2045657. PMID 17868466.
2. Anderson, Bruce Carl (2006). Office orthopedics for primary care : diagnosis. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier. p. 138. ISBN 1416022074.
3. Howell, John M. (July 1992). "Xiphodynia: A report of three cases". The Journal of Emergency Medicine. 10 (4): 435–438. doi:10.1016/0736-4679(92)90272-U. PMID 1430980.

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