Asymptomatic spontaneous cervical and mediastinal emphysema

We report our experience with four patients presenting with spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) within a 3-month period. The patients (three male and one female, aged 15–17 years) were hospitalised with SPM. All patients were kept under observation, successfully treated and followed up for several y...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ case reports 2012-07, Vol.2012
Main Authors: Ojima, Hitoshi, Fukai, Yasuyuki, Soda, Makoto, Kuwano, Hiroyuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Asia
Asthma
Chest Pain - diagnosis
Chest Pain - etiology
Diagnosis, Differential
Emphysema - complications
Emphysema - diagnostic imaging
Female
Humans
Male
Mediastinal Emphysema - complications
Mediastinal Emphysema - diagnostic imaging
Neck
Other Asian
Pain
Reminder of Important Clinical Lesson
Soccer
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:We report our experience with four patients presenting with spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) within a 3-month period. The patients (three male and one female, aged 15–17 years) were hospitalised with SPM. All patients were kept under observation, successfully treated and followed up for several years, with no recurrences reported. Two patients had histories of asthma, while the other two developed SPM during sporting activities. SPM carries the possibility of being latent. For symptoms such as chest pain without evidence of pneumothorax in young people, it is necessary to always consider SPM and make the diagnosis accordingly.
ISSN:1757-790X
DOI:10.1136/bcr-2012-006248