einstein (São Paulo). 19/May/2015;13(4):642-3.

Neonatal spontaneous pneumomediastinum and the Spinnaker-Sail sign

DOI: 10.1590/S1679-45082015AI3133

Pneumomediastinum in full-term newborn is associated with meconium aspiration syndrome, hyaline membrane disease, mechanical ventilation or traumas related with labor. The spontaneous neonatal pneunomediastinum is rare. We present imaging exams crucial for the diagnosis of a clinical case of pneumomediastinum in a newborn.^(,)

This is a radiology exam of a newborn whose mother pregnancy was monitored and occurred without intercurrences. The infant born at 38 weeks of gestation by vacuum assisted delivery, immediate crying and Apgar score of 9/10. The diagnosis of subcutaneous emphysema in anterosuperior portion of the thorax occurred in the infant first day of life. Chest radiography showed subcutaneous cervical emphysema and Spinnaker-Sail sign (wedge-shaped opacity extending to superior mediastinum, inferiorly delimited by a hyper-transparent area) (). Newborn’s computed tomography showed subcutaneous emphysema and extensive pneumomediastinum, mild septation and unchanged lung parenchyma (and ). In addition, the baby was always stable and had good clinical progress.

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