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A New Sign of Pneumomediastinum in the Neonate

Marvin S. Kogutt, MD

JAMA. 1981;246(7):770-771.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

THE OCCURRENCE of pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax in the neonate is relatively common. Pneumomediastinum is secondary to alveolar rupture with dissection of air along the pulmonary interstitium into the mediastinum.¹ This condition usually causes little or no respiratory distress. The classic configuration of pneumomediastinum is caused by elevation of the thymic lobes by air loculated within the anterior mediastinum. Several descriptive terms, including the "angel-wing" or "spinnaker sail" thymus, are well known.² Mediastinal air may also enter the subpleural space causing the "extrapleural air sing."³ This article describes a previously unreported configuration of the thymus in pneumomediastinum. This should not be confused with more serious abnormalities such as mediastinal masses, anomalous vessels, or other pathological structures.

Report of Cases

CASE 1.—

A 2,200-g infant was born after a full-term gestation and delivery. The infant was referred to this hospital after experiencing mild respiratory distress, and a chest roentgenogram . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Radiology and Pediatrics, Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Ochsner Clinic, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121 (Dr Kogutt).

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