Causes

Costochondritis usually has no clear cause. Occasionally, however, costochondritis may be caused by:

• Injury. A blow to the chest is one example.
• Physical strain. Heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and severe coughing have been linked to costochondritis.
• Arthritis. Costochondritis might be linked to specific problems, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.
• Joint infection. Viruses, bacteria and fungi — such as tuberculosis, syphilis and aspergillosis — can infect the rib joint.
• Tumors. Noncancerous and cancerous tumors can cause costochondritis. Cancer might travel to the joint from another part of the body, such as the breast, thyroid or lung.