Abstract
A 13-year-old woman consulted our department complaining of severe weight loss, accompanied by her parents. A diagnosis of “anorexia nervosa” was speculated and she was admitted to our hospital on the day. Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema were observed on chest Xray film and CT scan. Emphysema were thought to be caused by both increasing airway pressure due to strain and loss of elasticity of the alveolar tissue, which was believed to be caused by low nutritional state of the patient's anorexia nervosa. After two weeks rest, emphysema improved without special treatments. It is thought that pneumomediastinum is one of the important complications of anorexia nervosa.
