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  • Title: An Unusual Cause of Acute-Onset Chest Pain: Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum.
    Author: Berger N, Nichols J, Yap V, Datta D.
    Journal: Conn Med; 2015 Apr; 79(4):201-5. PubMed ID: 26259296.
    Abstract:
    Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is the presence of air in the mediastinum without any precipitating factor or predisposing disease. It is an uncommon, usually benign condition predominantly seen in young males. It typically presents with chest pain or dyspnea. It occurs after intrathoracic pressure changes leads to alveolar rupture and dissection of air along the tracheobronchial tree. It is reported to occur in 1/30,000 to 1/40,000 hospital admissions. Despite its low incidence, SPM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute chest pain or dyspnea in young patients. Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, as evidence of its occurrence may not be present on examination or chest X-ray. Patients with SPM respond well to medical treatment, with no recurrence in the majority of cases. We report a case of a young healthy male who developed a spontaneous pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium while playing volleyball and did well with conservative management.
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