{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]],"date-time":"2026-07-23T14:19:03Z","timestamp":1784816343754,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,3]],"date-time":"2025-01-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1735862400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Pectus excavatum, also known as sunken chest or funnel chest, is a structural deformity of the anterior chest wall, characterized by an inward sternum. This condition can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular issues, although it is often addressed for aesthetic reasons. This perspective article reviews the experiences of multiple centers in treating pectus excavatum, to explore whether a clear boundary exists between pathological and aesthetic needs. Methods: The research was conducted on PubMed, using the following targeted search queries to identify relevant studies: \u201cpectus excavatum and surgery\u201d, and \u201cpectus excavatum and conservative treatment.\u201d Additional searches were performed for articles related to the psychological and emotional state of patients with pectus excavatum. Results: Over 2000 articles related to the topic were identified in the literature. Only primary studies from the past 20 years were included, with a focus on centers reporting a minimum of 30 to 50 cases annually. Nearly 60% of these centers perform the Nuss procedure, exclusively. Major complications occurred in 1\u20132% of cases, particularly when the procedure was performed without videothoracoscopy. Post-surgery, improvements in lung function and exercise capacity were reported, along with significant reductions in depression and anxiety. Conclusions: The decision to pursue surgical correction of pectus excavatum requires a thorough evaluation of both therapeutic and aesthetic factors. A patient-centered approach, considering both the physical and emotional aspects of the condition, is essential for achieving the best possible outcome.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14010231","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,3]],"date-time":"2025-01-03T05:02:02Z","timestamp":1735880522000},"page":"231","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Surgical Treatment of Pectus Excavatum: The Boundary Between Pathologic and Aesthetic Need"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5421-7676","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paola","family":"Ciriaco","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Thoracic Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"316","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0041-1729898","article-title":"The epidemiology behind pectus excavatum: Clinical study and review of the literature","volume":"32","author":"Kloth","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur. 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