Symptomatic presentation of spontaneous pneumomediastinum in a young girl: a case report

Authors

  • Abhinav Choubey Career Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Shivani Choubey Career Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20243390

Keywords:

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum , Pleuritic chest pain, High-resolution computed tomography, Adolescent respiratory conditions, Conservative management

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is a rare and typically benign condition that involves the presence of air in the mediastinum without an obvious cause, such as trauma or surgery. It most commonly affects adolescents and young adults, with a male predominance. This case report discusses a 14-year-old girl presenting with pleuritic chest pain and persistent cough, initially misdiagnosed as asthma exacerbation or lower respiratory tract infection. Despite multiple treatments, her symptoms persisted, and a high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan eventually revealed pneumomediastinum. The patient was treated conservatively with analgesics and rest, and she experienced a complete resolution of symptoms within ten days. A review of the literature reveals that SPM is often self-limiting, with conservative management sufficient in most cases. While the condition mimics more serious diseases such as pneumothorax and pulmonary embolism, accurate diagnosis through imaging is key to avoiding unnecessary interventions. This report underscores the importance of considering SPM in young patients presenting with chest pain and respiratory symptoms, especially when they do not respond to standard treatments for more common conditions.

References

Macklin CC. Transport of air along sheaths of pulmonic blood vessels from alveoli to mediastinum: clinical implications. Arch Intern Med. 1939;64(5):913-26.

Bakhos CT, Pupovac SS, Ata A, Fantauzzi JP, Fabian T. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: an extensive workup is not required. J Am Coll Surg. 2014;219(4):713-17.

Mihos P, Potaris K, Gakidis I, Kalantzi N, Lioulias A. Management of spontaneous pneumomediastinum: a report of 14 cases. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2004;25(5):852-55.

Azzopardi M, Porceddu ML, Whitby M, Siddiqui N. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: clinical and radiographic features. Emerg Radiol. 2020;27(1):83-7.

Panacek EA, Singer AJ, Sherman BW, Prescott A, Rutherford WF. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: clinical and natural history. Ann Emerg Med. 1992;21(10):1222-7.

Hamman L. Spontaneous mediastinal emphysema. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp. 1939;64:1-21.

Chalumeau M, Le Clainche L, Sayeg N, Sannier N, Michel JL, Marianowski R, et al. Pediatric Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in children. Pediatrics. 2001;107(1):e12.

Sahni S, Verma S, Grullon J, Esquire A, Patel P, Talwar A. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: time for consensus. N Am J Med Sci. 2013;5(8):460-4.

Singh D, Verma R, Dhaka R, Singh H. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: an uncommon presentation. Lung India. 2015;32(1):60-2.

Kouritas VK, Papagiannopoulos K, Lazaridis G, Sofia B, Ioannis M, Vasilis K, et al. Pneumomediastinum. J Thorac Dis. 2015;7(1):S44-9.

Azzopardi M, Porceddu ML, Whitby M, Siddiqui N. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in pediatric and adult populations: a comparative study. Emerg Radiol. 2020;27(1):83-7.

Downloads

Published

2024-10-30

How to Cite

Choubey, A., & Choubey, S. (2024). Symptomatic presentation of spontaneous pneumomediastinum in a young girl: a case report. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 12(11), 4306–4309. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20243390

Issue

Section

Case Reports