Pediatrics & Neonatology
Volume 49, Issue 5 , Pages 197-200, October 2008

Spontaneous Multiseptated Cystic Pneumomediastinum in a Term Newborn

  • Cheng-Ting Lee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Po-Nien Tsao

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Steven Shinn-Forng Peng

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Suh-Fang Jeng

      Affiliations

    • School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Hung-Chieh Chou

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chien-Yi Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Wu-Shiun Hsieh

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7 Chung-Shan S. Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan

Received 15 May 2008; received in revised form 16 June 2008; accepted 19 September 2008.

Article Outline

Pneumomediastinum usually occurs after assisted ventilation. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum without preceding assisted ventilation, and presenting as a huge cystic mass in a term newborn infant has rarely been reported. We report a term baby who developed respiratory distress at 2 days of age. A huge cystic tumor of the thymus or a congenital mediastinal cystic tumor was initially suggested by chest radiography and computed tomography. Follow-up chest film revealed a “spinnaker sail sign” which is a typical radiographic presentation of pneumomediastinum.

Key Words:  congenital cystic lung disease , pneumomediastinum , pulmonary air leak

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PII: S1875-9572(09)60009-7

doi:10.1016/S1875-9572(09)60009-7

Pediatrics & Neonatology
Volume 49, Issue 5 , Pages 197-200, October 2008

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