Correspondence
Dr. Kanika Sachdeva
Chander Niwas, 61, Lawrence Road
Amritsar, Punjab, INDIA
Phone: +91-9888284878
E-mail: kanikadr.sarang@yahoo.com

The finding of the sternalis muscle is a rare entity of the anterior chest wall that challenges our understanding of the anatomy of the parasternal region. When it is present, it lies superficial to the pectoralis major and parallel to the sternum, and it extends from the jugular notch to the costal region. In the present study, a bilateral case of the sternalis muscle has been reported, which was noticed in a 60-year old male cadaver. On both the sides, the muscle was extending from the level of the sixth costal cartilage to the front of the manubrium sterni and it was even continuing with the ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid. This rare anomaly has puzzled radiologists and surgeons with respect to the confirmation of its diagnosis, where there was a chance of missing it all together or mistaking it for tumour on mammography or CT scan. The sternalis muscle may be important for reconstructive surgeons who perform mastectomy and for radiologists who interpret mammograms. Thus, the sternalis muscle is academically, anthropologically and surgically important.

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