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Breastbone (Sternum) X-ray

This is a set of x-rays aimed specifically at the breastbone, taken from more than two angles. The sternum sits directly over the heart and spine, so it cannot be judged from a straight-on chest film — it has to be shot from oblique and side angles to be seen at all. It is most often ordered after a blow to the front of the chest.

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What it is

The sternum is the flat bone down the middle of the front of the chest, where the ribs and collarbones attach. On an ordinary front-to-back chest x-ray it is almost invisible, because the spine, the heart, and the mediastinum all sit directly behind it and absorb the beam. To see it, the technologist has to turn the patient so the breastbone is thrown clear of the spine — typically an angled oblique view plus a true side view, and often more. That is what this code describes: a dedicated sternum series of more than two views, not a chest x-ray that happens to include the chest wall.

Why it is done

  • To look for a fracture after a direct impact to the front of the chest, such as a steering wheel or seat belt in a collision
  • To assess persistent pain or a deformity over the breastbone
  • To check the alignment or healing of a sternum that was cut and wired together during open-heart surgery
  • To evaluate a lump or area of tenderness where the ribs meet the sternum

What to expect

The visit is short — usually five to ten minutes at the machine. The technologist positions the patient standing, sitting, or lying down and rotates the torso between exposures, asking for a held breath each time so the image is not blurred by breathing. Holding still in a twisted position can be uncomfortable if the chest is already sore, and the technologist can usually adjust the setup rather than force it. X-rays show bone well and soft tissue poorly, so a normal sternum series does not say anything about bruised cartilage or muscle underneath.

Questions worth asking

  • How many views is the radiology department planning? The code, and the price, change with the number of views taken.
  • If this is being done in an emergency department, is the x-ray charge separate from the facility's visit level charge?
  • Is a CT of the chest also being ordered? A CT usually shows the sternum as well, and it is worth knowing whether both will appear on the bill.
  • Will the images be released to me on a disc or portal so a follow-up clinic does not repeat them?

What Breastbone (Sternum) X-ray costs by state

Breastbone (Sternum) X-ray prices at hospitals

See every published price for Breastbone (Sternum) X-ray: the full national range, the state and hospital breakdowns, and which hospitals charge the least.

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Sources

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