title: Traumatic subarachnoid-mediastinal fistula mimicking a ruptured aorta.
abstract: A 35-year-old man, injured in an automobile accident was found to have a subarachnoid-mediastinal fistula that mimicked a ruptured aorta. Of 16 reported cases of traumatic subarachnoid-mediastinal fistula, this is only the third in which the fistulous communication was with the extrapleural space only. The possibility of subarachnoid-mediastinal fistula, although rare, should be entertained in injuries to the thoracocervical spine when neurologic symptoms are present.
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D009192:Myelography; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D013346:Subarachnoid Space