[Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in a child].

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum results from nontraumatic, mediastinal air leakage, without underlying lung disease. It is an uncommon, but important condition found in healthy young adults and children presenting with chest pain and shortness of breath. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chest pain. We present a 12-year-old boy who complained of chest pain and was found to have a spontaneous pneumomediastinum. We suggest that spontaneous pneumomediastinum is underdiagnosed in children.