The Macklin effect in tension pneumomediastinum in a patient with interstitial pneumonia

Abstract

Key message Tension pneumomediastinum is a rare complication of interstitial pneumonia. This case shows computed tomography findings of the Macklin effect, in which air dissection along the bronchovascular interstitium caused by alveolar rupture leads to pneumomediastinum.

Keywords

• interstitial pneumonia
• Macklin effect
• pneumomediastinum