Spontaneous pneumomediastinum mimicking acute pericarditis

Clin Case Rep. 2021 Dec 4;9(12):e05156. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.5156. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Abstract

ST elevations on electrocardiogram (ECG) have a broad differential diagnosis that can vary from benign to more ominous pathologies. These include early repolarization, coronary vasospasm, acute pericarditis, ST-elevation myocardial infarction, ventricular aneurysms, and dissecting aneurysm of the aorta reaching the pericardium. ST-segment changes may also provide a clue to the presence of spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM). These ECG changes are seldom reported in literature. We describe two SPM cases with concomitant pneumopericardium that closely mimicked acute pericarditis with a deceptive clinical spectrum.

Keywords: ECG; ST‐T wave changes; acute pericarditis; pneumomediastinum.

Publication types

  • Case Reports