Pneumomediastinum, pneumorrhachis and subcutaneous emphysema associated with viral infections: Report of three cases.
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is usually secondary to alveolar rupture in the pulmonary interstitium, associated with subcutaneous emphysema and occasionally with pneumothorax, but is rarely associated with pneumorrhachis. The leaked air into the pulmonary perivascular interstitium follows the path of least resistance from the mediastinum to the fascial planes of the neck. Air freely communicates via the neural foramina and collects in the epidural space. Pneumorrhachis is defined as the presence of air in the spinal canal, either in the intradural and/or extradural spaces. It is a very rare clinical entity and mostly asymptomatic, hence most probably underdiagnosed. Many pathological and physiological events can lead to alveolar rupture, and these clinical findings can be related to various, mainly traumatic and iatrogenic etiologies. Herein we report three cases of pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema, interstitial emphysema and pneumorrhachis in two cases, which were related to rhinovirus, human bocavirus and respiratory syncytial virus infection.
Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Nagehan
N
Emiralioğlu
Department of Pediatric Radiology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
H Nursun
HN
Ozcan
Department of Pediatric Radiology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Berna
B
Oğuz
Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Ebru
E
Yalçın
Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Deniz
D
Doğru
Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Uğur
U
Özçelik
Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Nural
N
Kiper
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D063205:Pneumorrhachis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D004279:DNA, Viral
bocavirus; pneumomediastinum; pneumorrhachis; respiratory syncytial virus; viral infection