title: Spontaneous pneumopericardium due to exertion.
abstract: We report the unique case of a patient with an idiopathic pneumopericardium due to heavy lifting and discuss Valsalva's maneuver as a rare cause in the pathogenesis of pneumopericardium. Our patient recovered without treatment and had no recurrence of pneumopericardium during follow-up. All physicians should be aware of pneumopericardium as a possible cause of chest pain, especially when no trauma is visible. Pneumopericardium may also be an occasional complication of pneumothorax and pneunomediastinum.
authors.affiliation: Innere Medizin D, Medizinische Poliklinik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerald W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Westermann
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suwelack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011026:Pneumopericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed