[Rectum tumor diagnosed by subcutaneous emphysema of the chest].

BACKGROUND

Various benign and malignant thoracic or abdominal diseases can cause subcutaneous emphysema on the chest, pneumomediastinum or pneumopericardium. To date only 7 cases have been reported on perforation of the sigmoid colon or the rectum presenting with these rare symptoms.

METHODS

We report a case of a 72-year-old woman who presented with thoracic and cervical subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium. Further examination revealed that this was caused by a rectal tumor causing large bowel obstruction and a consequent perforation of the transverse colon. Due to the patient's old age, poor health and the special anatomic situation after previous laparotomies, she presented with atypical symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Subcutaneous emphysema of the chest, pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium are uncommon symptoms and can be a real challenge in diagnosis. Especially in old patients with significant past medical history, life-threatening conditions present misleadingly with vague clinical symptoms. In case of these patients it is important to remember that even cardiopulmonary symptoms such as pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium or subcutaneous emphysema of the chest can be signs of severe diseases in the abdomen.