title: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: an algorithm for diagnosis and management.
abstract: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is a rare disorder most often affecting young males which is generally self-limiting. Despite the benign prognosis with few complications and little morbidity, it frequently confuses clinicians in primary settings, who may have difficulty differentiating SPM from other serious organ ruptures, especially oesophageal rupture (the so-called Boerhaave syndrome), which may lead to mediastinitis and may be fatal, even with appropriate interventions. An overview of adult SPM is provided, reviewing 17 studies (414 patients), including our clinical experience, and finally an algorithm for diagnosis and management of SPM is proposed, based on the characteristics of SPM.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory and Allergy Medicine, Komaki Municipal Hospital, Komaki, Japan. k-takada@komakihp.gr.jp
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Shuuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hiramatsu
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shizu
authors.forename: Shoutarou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okachi
authors.forename: Kiyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ninomiya
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morioka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult