Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: A rare complication of dermatomyositis

• Published in: Revue de pneumologie clinique Vol. 73; no. 5; pp. 258 - 262
• Main Authors: Allaoui, A, Aboudib, F, Bouissar, W, Echchilali, K, Moudatir, M, Alaoui, F Z, Elkabli, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Dermatomyositis - complications; Dermatomyositis - pathology; Female; Humans; Mediastinal Emphysema - etiology; Mediastinal Emphysema - pathology; Middle Aged; Subcutaneous Emphysema - etiology; Subcutaneous Emphysema - pathology; Pneumomédiastin; Dermatomyosite; Pneumomediastinum; Dermatomyositis
• ISSN: 0761-8417
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pneumo.2017.08.008

Dermatomyositis is a rare connective tissue disease of unknown origin, including inflammatory myopathy and cutaneous manifestations. Several pulmonary complications associated to dermatomyositis were described; especially interstitial lung disease. Some rare and particular pulmonary complications were reported in the literature such as pneumodiastinum and pneumothorax. We are describing here, a case report about a female patient, who presented with dermatomyositis associated to pneumomediastinum as a severe and lethal complication without pneumothorax. It is a novel observation depicting this severe and rare complication. Brutal dyspnea and cervical subcutaneous crackling are alarming signs that should make practitioners think about this complication.