Recurrent pneumomediastinum in two young adults

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is an uncommonly encountered entity. In addition, due to its rarity, little is known about recurrent SPM. We report on two exceptional cases of recurrent pneumomediastinum. One was a 16-year-old male whose first episode was accompanied by blunt chest trauma followed by a spontaneous second episode with a free interval of 17 months. The other case was a 17-year-old male whose presenting symptom was right and left pleuritic chest pain, respectively, without any predisposing or precipitating factors. We diagnosed these patients without performing invasive procedures and administered conservative management with success.