Rare Case of Spontaneous Pneumorrhachis in a Young Male with COVID-19

Abstract

Here we present a rare case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum complicated with pneumorrhachis (PR) in a young man who is a known case of carcinoma rectosigmoid region. Our young male was diagnosed with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and remained asymptomatic for any respiratory complaints. Though an association of pneumomediastinum has been reported in COVID 19 patients, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of PR in a COVID-19 oncological case. The role of a radiologist is to identify this condition as cases reported earlier may have serious neurological consequences. Pursuing the cause can be a diagnostic challenge but it reaps the clinical benefit in the appropriate management.

Spontaneous Pneumorrhachis Secondary to Rhinovirus-Associated Emesis with Demonstrated Pathophysiology

“…neumorrhachis, or air within spine canal, is a rare phenomenon in which gas has been introduced into the spinal column most commonly because of iatrogenic causes or traumatic insult 1 . However, there is an increasing number of case reports of spontaneous pneumorrhachis associated with pneumomediastinum secondary to forceful emesis or barotrauma such as heavy coughing [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] . Other reported etiologies include airway obstruction after foreign body aspiration 3 and physical exertion after recreational drug use (Ecstasy and marijuana) 19 .…”