title: Spontaneous pneumorrhachis in bronchial asthma.
abstract: We report on an 18-year-old male with bronchial asthma who presented with swelling over the neck and upper chest after a mild episode of bronchospasm. Physical examination was suggestive of subcutaneous emphysema, which was subsequently confirmed on a radiograph. Computed tomography in addition revealed pneumomediastinum and air within the epidural space of the spinal canal. Although spontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema have been described in a variety of situations, including patients with asthma, spontaneous pneumorrhachis in asthmatics is a very rare entity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India. muneereesa@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eesa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kandpal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Misra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed