Subscribe to RSS
![](/products/assets/desktop/img/oa-logo.png)
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1735920
Rare Case of Spontaneous Pneumorrhachis in a Young Male with COVID-19
Funding Source None.![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/10.1055-s-00050590/202103/lookinside/thumbnails/10-1055-s-0041-1735920_2160638-1.jpg)
Abstract
Here we present a rare case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum complicated with pneumorrhachis (PR) in a young man who is a known case of carcinoma rectosigmoid region. Our young male was diagnosed with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and remained asymptomatic for any respiratory complaints. Though an association of pneumomediastinum has been reported in COVID 19 patients, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of PR in a COVID-19 oncological case. The role of a radiologist is to identify this condition as cases reported earlier may have serious neurological consequences. Pursuing the cause can be a diagnostic challenge but it reaps the clinical benefit in the appropriate management.
Ethical Approval
Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for this study.
Publication History
Article published online:
06 October 2021
© 2021. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India
-
References
- 1 Martins L, Dionísio P, Moreira S, Manique A, Correia I, Bárbara C. An unusual association in an uncommon disease: two cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum associated with pneumorrhachis. Case Rep. Pulmonol 2016; 2016: 5092157
- 2 Oertel MF, Korinth MC, Reinges MHT, Krings T, Terbeck S, Gilsbach JM. Pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of pneumorrhachis. Eur Spine J 2006; 15 (5, suppl 5) 636-643
- 3 Yaginuma K, Watanabe M, Saito Y. et al. Pneumorrhachis in children: a report of two cases and review of the literature. Radiol Case Rep 2019; 14 (11) 1325-1329
- 4 Tsuji H, Takazakura E, Terada Y, Makino H, Yasuda A, Oiko Y. CT demonstration of spinal epidural emphysema complicating bronchial asthma and violent coughing. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1989; 13 (01) 38-39
- 5 Chiba Y, Kakuta H. Massive subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and spinal epidural emphysema as complications of violent coughing: a case report. Auris Nasus Larynx 1995; 22 (03) 205-208
- 6 Coniglio M, De Santis M, Pizzi G, Francioni F, Ricci P. Pneumorachis associated with spontaneous pneumomediastinum. A case report [in Italian]. Radiol Med (Torino) 1997; 94 (05) 531-532
- 7 Gordon IJ, Hardman DR. The traumatic pneumomyelogram. A previously undescribed entity. Neuroradiology 1977; 13 (02) 107-108
- 8 Newbold RG, Wiener MD, Vogler III JB, Martinez S. Traumatic pneumorrhachis. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1987; 148 (03) 615-616
- 9 Dosios T, Fytas A, Zarifis G. Spontaneous epidural emphysema and pneumomediastinum. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2000; 18 (01) 123
- 10 Bernaerts A, Verniest T, Vanhoenacker F, Van den Brande P, Petré C, De Schepper AM. Pneumomediastinum and epidural pneumatosis after inhalation of “Ectasy”. Eur Radiol 2003; 13 (03) 642-643
- 11 Song K-J, Lee K-B. Spontaneous extradural pneumorrhachis causing cervical myelopathy. Spine J 2009; 9 (02) e16-e18
- 12 López Vega JM, Parra Gordo ML, Diez Tascón A, Ossaba Vélez S. Pneumomediastinum and spontaneous pneumothorax as an extrapulmonary complication of COVID-19 disease. Emerg Radiol 2020; 27 (06) 727-730