ABSTRACT

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is a clinical condition that is characterized by the presence of free air in the mediastinal space that is unrelated to trauma or medical procedure. Although SPM is a rare and generally benign condition, during the period of the status, life threatening complications can result such as tension pneumothorax, tension pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium or acute upper airway obstruction. The patient who had persistent cough for a week and known asthma disease referred to the hospital with complaints of chest pain, dyspnea, and neck pain. Subcutaneous crepitation on the neck was the only pathological finding on physical examination. SPM and subcutaneous emphysema was detected on computed tomography of the chest. The patient was hospitalized with diagnosis of asthma, SPM and subcutaneous emphysema and discharged after 72 hours of hospital admission with successfully treated conservatively. We report this case because of this clinic condition is rare and serious complications may occur. In patients who have chest or neck pain, SPM must be in differential diagnosis when there are precipitating factors such as asthma attack or severe cough.