Connecticut medicine
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Connecticut medicine · Apr 2015
Case ReportsAn Unusual Cause of Acute-Onset Chest Pain: Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum.
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. ⋯ 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.