A Fatal Complication of Dermatomyositis: Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum

Abstract

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a negative prognostic factor associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with dermatomyositis (DM). Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare complication of DM and it can be fatal. We present a 48-year-old woman with DM and ILD complicated by pneumomediastinum without pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema.