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INTRODUCTION: The sternal foramen is a defect associated with incomplete fusion of neonatal sternal cartilage. These variations are frequently observed and usually asymptomatic. The clinical importance of sternal foramen is that if its existence is unknown, can complicate invasive procedures and be confused with pathologies. METHODS: Computed Tomography images of 500 patients were analyzed retrospectively. The sternal foramen's diameters were measured and adjacent organs were recognized. The foramen's distance from the sternum's upper and lower edges, midline, xiphoid's lowest point, and incisura jugularis were measured. RESULTS: 54 foramen sternales were detected in 48(9.6%) patients. When the organs adjacent to foramen sternale were examined, 36(67%) heart, 7(13%) lungs, 5(9%) liver, 2(4%) diaphragm, 1(2%) stomach, 3(5%) were both heart and lung. The mean distance of the highest point of foramen from the midsagittal line to incisura jugularis was 157.6+-23.9 mm in men and 119.9+-15.51 mm in women. There was a statistically significant difference (p |
