Abstract:

Pneumomediastinum is, by definition the precens of air in the mediastinum and divided into two main groups: primary (spontaneous) and secondary. In spontaneous pneumomediastinum, unlike the secondary pneumediastinum, there is no direct reason to explain the free air in the mediastinum. Several predisposing factors such as asthma, COPD, cocaine use have been identified. However, no etiological factor has been identified in 1/3 of the patients which constitutes the idiopathic group. This condition is mostly seen in young asthenic men (male / female = 4/1). The accompanying subcutaneous emphysema with pneumomediastinum is known as the Hamman syndrome. These patients frequently refer to the emergency department with chest pain and shortness of breath. In our case, a 19-year-old female patient referred to our emergency department with shortness of breath without evident chest pain. Posterioanterior (PA) chest radiograph and computed tomography images revealed pneumomediastinum with emphysema in the cervical compartments and subcutaneous tissues. As expected in the patients with Hamman syndrome, the clinical condition of the patient improved with symptomatic treatments and no complications developed during the course of the disease.

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