Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
10:37
Automated Measurement of Pulmonary Emphysema and Small Airway Remodeling in Cigarette Smoke-exposed Mice
Published on: January 16, 2015
Asymptomatic spontaneous cervical and mediastinal emphysema.
Hitoshi Ojima1, Yasuyuki Fukai, Makoto Soda
1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center, Ota, Gunma, Japan. hiojima@gunma-cc.jp
BMJ Case Reports
|July 5, 2012
Summary
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) in adolescents is treatable with observation and has no recurrences. Consider SPM in young patients with chest pain, even without pneumothorax.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Pulmonology
- Thoracic Surgery
Background:
- Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is a rare condition, often presenting with chest pain.
- Adolescents are a notable demographic for SPM, with potential triggers including physical exertion and underlying respiratory conditions like asthma.
Observation:
- This report details the experience with four adolescent patients (15-17 years) hospitalized for SPM over three months.
- Two patients had a history of asthma, while the other two developed SPM during sports.
- All patients were managed conservatively with observation.
Findings:
- All four patients were successfully treated and experienced no recurrence during long-term follow-up.
- The study highlights that SPM can be latent and may present without obvious pneumothorax.
Implications:
- SPM should be considered in the differential diagnosis for young individuals presenting with chest pain, especially when pneumothorax is not evident.
- Conservative management with observation appears effective for SPM in adolescents, with a low risk of recurrence.
- Early recognition and diagnosis of SPM are crucial for appropriate patient management and preventing complications.
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