title: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in a child as a rare cause of chest pain.
abstract: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare disorder in children occurring mostly due to some triggering events. In general, no underlying cause is found. A 10-year-old boy was admitted with chest pain of acute onset, suggestive of pericardial effusion. His body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate were normal. Femoral pulses were palpable and he did not have cyanosis. Cardiac auscultation was normal except for a crunching sound. Electrocardiography showed no abnormality. There was no subcutaneous emphysema over the chest, neck or face. On the chest radiogram, suspected mediastinal air was noted. A left lateral chest X-ray revealed apparent presence of air in the anterior mediastinum. No etiologic cause could be documented. Pneumomediastinum resolved spontaneously within a week.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medicine Faculty of Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey. drholgun@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Haşim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Olgun
authors.forename: Atila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Türkyilmaz
authors.forename: Yener
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Naci
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ceviz
mesh_terms: D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006326:Heart Auscultation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic