Which statement best describes the adolescent scoliosis finding?

• A. There can be unequal rib prominences or shoulder heights.
• B. It is more common in males and is idiopathic.
• C. The diagnosis can be made when the curvature is 8 degrees or more.
• D. There is a strong familial component to this condition.

Answer: (A)

Adolescent scoliosis shows up as asymmetry of the trunk from a lateral spinal curve with rotation of the vertebrae. On exam you’ll commonly see unequal rib prominences and uneven shoulder heights, signs that become especially evident when the patient bends forward to reveal a rib hump. These visual and palpable clues are the most useful clinical indicators in teens, which is why this statement is the best description.

While scoliosis can run in families and many cases are idiopathic, it is more common in females, not males. The diagnosis is made radiographically by a Cobb angle of 10 degrees or more; an 8-degree curvature isn’t the standard diagnostic threshold. The key point is the visible trunk asymmetry due to rib cage rotation, which the chosen statement captures.