Thoracic Scars

Overview

• Scars on the chest can suggest past surgery, trauma, burns and healed skin conditions.

• • Common Thoracic Surgical Scars

  • A
    Sternotomy (midline)Most cardiac surgery, esp. CABG
  • B
    Anterior thoracotomy (submammary)Lung biopsy, pericardial surgery
  • C
    Posterolateral thoracotomy (axillary)Most non-cardiac thoracic procedures
  • D
    Clamshell (bilateral subpectoral)Lung transplantation
  • E
    Left subclavicularPacemaker insertion