A Case of Spontaneous Mediastinal Emphysema with Subcutaneous Emphysema and Pharyngeal Emphysema

Abstract

A 13-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital because of chest pain, dyspnea and neck swelling, which suddenly occurred prior to the admission. There was no causal disease or apparent precipitating episode. Physical examination disclosed Hamman's sign and the subcutaneous emphysema of the cheek, neck and chest, but pharyngeal emphysema was not noted visually. Chest X-ray and CT revealed intramediastinal air, subcutaneous emphysema and pharyngeal emphysema. He was treated prophylactically only with antibiotics, and dyspnea, subcutaneous emphysema and mediastinal emphysema subsided spontaneously within about 10 days.