CASE 567 Published on 06.11.2000
0

Blunt traumatic pneumomediastinum outlining thymic remnants

Section

Chest imaging

Case Type

Clinical Cases

Authors

M. Wintermark, P. Schnyder

Connected authors
Pierre SCHNYDER SWITZERLAND
Patient

12 years, male

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Clinical History
Blunt trauma in a child
Imaging Findings
12-year-old male child involved in a blunt trauma (traffic accident)
Discussion
Radiological patterns of blunt traumatic pneumomediastinums are similar in children and in adults. Two specifics patterns are allowed by the presence of thymic remnants in children. Anterior air collections elevating the thymic lobes on front chest X--rays create a crescent-shaped configuration mimicking a spinnaker sail (“thymic spinnaker-sail” sign), whereas perithymic air collections associated with small bilateral pneumothoraces feature a soft-tissue density simulating the rockers of an infant’s cradle (“rocker--bottom thymus“ sign).
Differential Diagnosis List
Blunt traumatic pneumomediastinum outlining thymic remnants in child blunt trauma
Final Diagnosis
Blunt traumatic pneumomediastinum outlining thymic remnants in child blunt trauma
Case information
URL: https://eurorad.org/case/567
DOI: 10.1594/EURORAD/CASE.567
ISSN: 1563-4086
Figure 1

Anterior pneumomediastinum surrounding the thymic remnants

Anterior pneumomediastinum surrounding the thymic remnants
Front and lateral plain films disclose an anterior pneumomediastinum, which surrounds both thymic lobes (white arrows). Besides, the lateral film displays a “continuous left hemidiaphragm” sign (black arrows), and posterior air collections outlining the descending thoracic aorta (From Wintermark M, Gudinchet F, Schnyder P (2000) Pediatric chest trauma. In Schnyder P, Wintermark M. Radiology of blunt trauma of the chest. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 135-146)
Anterior pneumomediastinum surrounding the thymic remnants
Front and lateral plain films disclose an anterior pneumomediastinum, which surrounds both thymic lobes (white arrows). Besides, the lateral film displays a “continuous left hemidiaphragm” sign (black arrows), and posterior air collections outlining the descending thoracic aorta (From Wintermark M, Gudinchet F, Schnyder P (2000) Pediatric chest trauma. In Schnyder P, Wintermark M. Radiology of blunt trauma of the chest. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 135-146)