title: Rare case of pneumorrhachis, pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and surgical emphysema secondary to bronchial asthma.
abstract: Air localized within the spinal canal is called pneumorrhachis. In the case of pneumorrhachis, air can be present in the extradural, the intradural, or the subarachnoid space of the spinal canal. The air within the soft tissue of the posterior mediastinum may dissect along fascial planes, through the intervertebral neural foramina, and into the extradural or the subarachnoid space. Nontraumatic pneumorrhachis is a rare presentation. Most of the time, pneumorrhachis is asymptomatic, remains localized, and resolves spontaneously. There are very few reports of combined presence of pneumomediastinum and extradural pneumorrhachis not associated with thoracic injury in the published literature. We report a rare case of pneumorrhachis, pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and surgical emphysema in an adult female patient developed after a bout of violent cough related to bronchial asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Al Khor Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Parag Suresh
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Al Khor Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Nasser Jassim
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Al Maslamani
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, Al Khor Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Nishan K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Purayil
keywords: asthma; pneumomediastinum; pneumorrhachis; pneumothorax; surgical emphysema