title: A case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum and epidural pneumatosis in a young woman in the Emergency Department.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pneumomediastinum is a relatively rare, yet typically benign, clinical condition that usually presents in young men.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This report will describe a relatively rare event of pneumomediastinum with epidural extension in a young woman and will discuss the etiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment options for this condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with typical symptoms of shortness of breath and chest pain, but was found on computed tomography to have epidural pneumatosis. No precipitating event was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum with associated epidural pneumatosis in a young woman presenting to the ED is a relatively benign condition that typically does not require any significant work-up or treatment.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando, Florida, USA.
authors: Leela
authors: L
authors: Sirotkin
authors: Jay G
authors: JG
authors: Ladde
mesh_terms: D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004646:Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult