A recurrent case of spontaneous mediastinal emphysema

The first case of spontaneous mediastinal emphysema was reported by Hamman et al. in 1939. It is a rare condition that primarily occurs in young adults. In many instances, spontaneous mediastinal emphysema is caused by yelling, shouting or active exercise, but the cause is often unknown. It is rare for cases of spontaneous mediastinal emphysema to recur. Recently, we experienced a recurrent case of spontaneous mediastinal emphysema in a patient with a duodenal ulcer. Vomiting appeared to be the cause of the recurrence in our patient. Of the 58 patients with spontaneous mediastinal emphysema who have been reported in Japan so far, recurrences were documented only in our patient and two others.