Occult pneumomediastinum in a SARS patient presenting as recurrent chest pain and acute ECG changes mimicking acute coronary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly emergent disease due to a novel coronavirus, which caused outbreaks worldwide.


METHODS
We report a SARS patient who had developed recurrent chest pain and acute T-wave inversion over the precordial leads on electrocardiography (ECG).


RESULTS
She developed progressive subcutaneous emphysema a few days later. Her CXR showed features suggestive of pneumomediastinum, which was confirmed by high-resolution CT scan of the thorax.


CONCLUSIONS
Pneumomediastinum should be considered in SARS patients as a possible cause of chest pain and ECG changes that mimic acute coronary syndrome.
Tse
Tak-Sun
TS
Department of Medicine, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Tsui
Kin-Lam
KL
Yam
Loretta Y-C
LY
So
Loletta K-Y
LK
Lau
Arthur C-W
AC
Chan
Kwok-Keung
KK
Li
Shu-Kin
SK
D000208:Acute Disease; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D013577:Syndrome