A Recurrent Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum(SPM) is an uncommon disease that is defined as the nontraumatic presence of free air in the mediastinum without any apparent underlying disease. We report a case of recurrent spontaneous pneumomediastinum without any direct precipitating cause. A 21-year-old woman was admitted to hospital suffering from chest pain that occurred during walking (?). She had previously been well. She did not complain of cough or vomiting prior to this presentation. Upon admission, the physical examination and Electrocardiogram findings were normal. The chest x-ray and chest computed-tomography showed a pneumomediastinum. She was successfully managed conservatively. Twenty seven months later, she was readmitted with chest pain, which again occurred during the same activity. The recurrent SPM was confirmed by the chest x-ray and chest computed-tomography. She was managed in the same manner as before and made an uneventful recovery. This is the first case of recurrent SPM in Korea.

재발된 자발성 종격동기종

SPM은 기저질환이나 외상의 과거력 없이 종격동에 기포가 생기는 질환으로 주로 젊은 연령에서 발생하며, 재발은 세계적으로 소수의 증례보고 위주로 되어 있다. 저자들은 특별한 유발 요인 없는 젊은 여자환자에서 27개월 간격으로 재발한 SPM를 경험하였고, 이는 국내에 보고된 바 없으며, 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.