title: Spontaneous pneumorrhachis.
abstract: Pneumomediastinum is a relatively uncommon occurrence in pediatric patients. After mediastinal air leak, air may dissect through a variety of tissue planes within the chest, neck, and abdomen. We report the case of a 16-year-old adolescent boy who presented with spontaneous pneumomediastinum accompanied by the presence of air within the spinal canal. We suggest use of the term "spontaneous pneumorrhachis" to distinguish this type of presentation from other potential causes.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55404, USA. patrick.carolan@childrensmn.org
authors.forename: Patrick L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Carolan
authors.forename: Sonia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Vaishali
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D063205:Pneumorrhachis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed