title: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum.
abstract: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum, or Hamman's syndrome, is a rare condition which may present with the symptoms of chest pain, dyspnoea, dysphagia, or neck pain. The signs of subcutaneous emphysema and Hamman's crunch (the presence of a crepitance sound that varies with the heartbeat on auscultation of the precordium) are usually present. A case of this syndrome occurring in an elderly patient with none of the recognised risk factors is presented.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tytherleigh
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Handa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011674:Pulse; D011859:Radiography; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000209:etiology; D013577:Syndrome