Pneumorrhachis and pneumomediastinum in connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease: case series from a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India

Rheumatol Int. 2012 May;32(5):1415-9. doi: 10.1007/s00296-011-1862-6. Epub 2011 Mar 27.

Abstract

Pneumomediastinum has been described as a rare complication of connective tissue diseases. Here, we report four cases of pneumomediastinum: three of which are associated with dermatomyositis and one with mixed connective tissue disease. All our patients had interstitial lung disease. The first case of dermatomyositis described below was complicated by epidural emphysema (pneumorrhachis) in addition to pneumomediastinum. Pneumorrhachis is reported in many isolated case reports and series in the setting of asthma, pneumothorax, blunt chest trauma, etc. Less than 10% of pneumomediastinum cases develop this complication and vast majority of cases resolve spontaneously. The mechanism behind this has been postulated to be the passage of air through the intervertebral foramen. Others suggest entrapment of air which dissects between paraspinal soft tissues and along the vascular and nerve sheaths into the epidural space. This is the first ever reported case of epidural emphysema in connective tissue disease to the best of our knowledge.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Dermatomyositis / complications*
  • Dermatomyositis / diagnosis
  • Dermatomyositis / drug therapy
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Teaching*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • India
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / diagnosis
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / etiology*
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Emphysema / diagnosis
  • Mediastinal Emphysema / drug therapy
  • Mediastinal Emphysema / etiology*
  • Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / complications*
  • Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / diagnosis
  • Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / drug therapy
  • Steroids / therapeutic use
  • Subcutaneous Emphysema / diagnosis
  • Subcutaneous Emphysema / drug therapy
  • Subcutaneous Emphysema / etiology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Steroids