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Pneumomediastinum

Case contributed by Aneta Kecler-Pietrzyk
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

17 years old with history of asthma. Recent asthma attack with persistent suffocating cough during which patient developed severe chest pain.

Patient Data

Age: 17
Gender: Male
x-ray

Normal cardiomediastinal contour. Lungs are clear. 

There is lucency along both mediastinum and heart borders representing pneumomediastinum. 

Case Discussion

Pneumomediastinum refers to presence of air within mediastinum. 

It most commonly seen as a sequelae of trauma. 

In this case it was secondary to severe attack of asthma and persistent suffocating cough. 

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