title: Subcutaneous cervical emphysema and pneumomediastinum due to a lower gastrointestinal tract perforation.
abstract: This case report describes a 69-year-old man presenting with an extensive subcutaneous emphysema in his neck and generalized peritonitis caused by a lower gastrointestinal tract perforation. This case emphasizes that subcutaneous emphysema patients with negative thoracic findings should be scrutinized for signs of retroperitoneal hollow viscus perforation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. g.b.schmidt@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Georg-B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Maarten-W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Bronkhorst
authors.forename: Henk-H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hartgrink
authors.forename: Lee-H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Bouwman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D003106:Colon; D004646:Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis