Pneumomediastinum due to intractable hiccup as the presenting symptom of multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema generally occurs following trauma to the esophagus or lung. It also occurs spontaneously in such situations of elevating intrathoracic pressure as asthma, excessive coughing or forceful straining. We report here on the rare case of a man who experienced the signs of pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema after a prolonged bout of intractable hiccup as the initial presenting symptoms of multiple sclerosis.