Biomaterial Database

Pneumomediastinum simulating a panic attack in a patient with anorexia nervosa. 2003

Anita Karim, and Shahid Ahmed, and Leonard Rossoff

Department of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York 11040, USA.

OBJECTIVE Pneumomediastinum is a rare complication of anorexia nervosa. Although the mechanism is unknown, severe malnutrition may affect lung mechanics by altering the connective tissue, predisposing to pneumomediastinum. METHODS We describe a young male with anorexia nervosa and panic disorder who presented with symptoms similar to those of a panic attack and was diagnosed with spontaneous pneumomediastinum. RESULTS This case illustrates the importance of considering pneumomediastinum in the differential diagnosis of panic attack in patients with eating disorders. CONCLUSIONS Although spontaneous pneumomediastinum has a generally benign course, it must be differentiated from the potentially life-threatening secondary pneumomediastinum due to an esophageal tear.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008478	Mediastinal Emphysema	Presence of air in the mediastinal tissues due to leakage of air from the tracheobronchial tree, usually as a result of trauma.	Emphysema, Mediastinal,Interstitial Emphysema,Interstitial Emphysema of Lung,Pneumomediastinum,Pulmonary Interstitial Emphysema,Emphysema, Interstitial,Emphysema, Pulmonary Interstitial,Emphysemas, Pulmonary Interstitial,Interstitial Emphysema, Pulmonary,Interstitial Emphysemas, Pulmonary,Lung Interstitial Emphysema,Mediastinal Emphysemas,Pneumomediastinums,Pulmonary Interstitial Emphysemas
D010100	Oxygen	An element with atomic symbol O, atomic number 8, and atomic weight [15.99903; 15.99977]. It is the most abundant element on earth and essential for respiration.	Dioxygen,Oxygen-16,Oxygen 16
D003937	Diagnosis, Differential	Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures.	Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000856	Anorexia Nervosa	An eating disorder that is characterized by the lack or loss of APPETITE, known as ANOREXIA. Other features include excess fear of becoming OVERWEIGHT; BODY IMAGE disturbance; significant WEIGHT LOSS; refusal to maintain minimal normal weight; and AMENORRHEA. This disorder occurs most frequently in adolescent females. (APA, Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 1994)	Anorexia Nervosas,Nervosa, Anorexia,Nervosas, Anorexia
D016584	Panic Disorder	A type of anxiety disorder characterized by unexpected panic attacks that last minutes or, rarely, hours. Panic attacks begin with intense apprehension, fear or terror and, often, a feeling of impending doom. Symptoms experienced during a panic attack include dyspnea or sensations of being smothered; dizziness, loss of balance or faintness; choking sensations; palpitations or accelerated heart rate; shakiness; sweating; nausea or other form of abdominal distress; depersonalization or derealization; paresthesias; hot flashes or chills; chest discomfort or pain; fear of dying and fear of not being in control of oneself or going crazy. Agoraphobia may also develop. Similar to other anxiety disorders, it may be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.	Panic Attacks,Attack, Panic,Attacks, Panic,Disorder, Panic,Disorders, Panic,Panic Attack,Panic Disorders