The importance of the "sloping rib" in interventional radiology procedures of the chest.

Invasive procedures of the chest in radiology require anatomical awareness of variations in thoracic rib anomalies. The "sloping rib" is a descriptive term the authors use to describe an entity that may present a problem when attempting to remove fluid from the pleural space and/or tissue from the lung. The anomaly has been observed in muscle-wasting disorders, severe osteoporosis, metabolic diseases, and in idiopathic scoliosis of the thoracic spine. The significance to patient care and diagnosis will be discussed.