Neck emphysema and pneumomediastinum following dental extraction
Presentation
Post teeth extraction neck crepitations.
Patient Data
Chest radiograph
Features of pneumomediastinum and neck soft tissue emphysema, no pneumothorax. The lungs and pleural spaces are clear.
CT Neck and Chest
Pneumomediastinum and neck surgical emphysema. The remainder of the neck and chest are unremarkable.
Case Discussion
This case illustrates a rare complication, which has been well described 1, after certain dental treatments: neck emphysema extending with pneumomediastinum.
The patient noticed the symptoms immediately after a right inferior molar tooth extraction. We believe that the procedure allowed air communication from this molar tooth alveoli into the sublingual and submandibular spaces, which then has tracked down through the remainder deep cervical spaces and mediastinum. No other cause was identified to explain this presentation.
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