ABSTRACT
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a benign, self-limited condition that mainly affects young people. In this report, we present four cases of this uncommon condition and a review of the current literature. Two cases had no prior significant medical history: one had a history of asthma and the other underwent regular outpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa. The three patients who were not anorexic spontaneously improved within a few days. However, the patient with anorexia nervosa took 2 months to recover. It appears that spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an intractable complication of anorexia nervosa, and the improvement of nutritional status in the patient is essential to manage this condition.
ABSTRACT
A 66-year-old man presented to our emergency department with acute consciousness disorder, headache, and fever. Initial laboratory data indicated a high level of inflammatory reaction. Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging revealed a thickening of the right cranial dura mater on T1-weighted images. We presumed the patient was diagnosed as having myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP). Acute impaired consciousness without focal signs is an unusual presentation of HP. This treatable disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis when a patient presents with drowsiness and headache.
