Ewha Med J.  2014 Dec;37(Suppl):S19-S23. 10.12771/emj.2014.37.S.S19.

Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum Complicating with Asthma

• Woo YM
• Jung EJ
• Seong JS
• Jeong BJ
• Cho YJ
• Kang YM
• Lee E

• KMID: 2171306
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2014.37.S.S19

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon disease that is defined as the presence of free air in the mediastinum in the absence of any obvious precipitating cause. This condition occurs as a rare complication of acute exacerbation of asthma. Classic symptoms include retrosternal chest pain, dyspnea and cough, but are not specific. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum complicated by asthma is usually self-limiting and well controlled with conservative management, but this condition can be potentially life threatening. We report a case of 18-year-old woman with asthma who presented with spontaneous pneumomediastinum. The patient was treated conservatively with oxygen and steroid therapy, and her clinical conditions were improved. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum disappeared.

Keyword

Asthma; Pneumomediastinum

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Asthma*
Chest Pain
Cough
Dyspnea
Female
Humans
Mediastinal Emphysema*
Mediastinum
Oxygen
Oxygen

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Chest X-ray findings on admission. (A) A posteroanterior view of chest X-ray shows linear air density extended vertically from the internal side of left clavicle into the neck (arrow). (B) A lateral view of chest X-ray shows no obvious air density.

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  Fig. 2 Chest computed tomography (CT) findings on admission. An axial CT image shows diffuse pneumomediastinum around neck, esophagus, aorta and trachea (arrow).

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  Fig. 3 Follow-up chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) findings 10 days later. A posteroanterior view of chest X-ray (A) and chest CT (B) show complete disappearance of pneumomediastinum.

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