Diagnosis of costochondritis is primarily clinical, based on the patient's history and physical examination. Important diagnostic steps include:
Taking a detailed medical history to rule out other potential causes of chest pain. Performing a physical exam, specifically checking for tenderness in the costochondral junctions.
In some cases, additional tests such as a chest X-ray or ECG may be performed to exclude other conditions, but these are not typically necessary for diagnosing costochondritis.
