Cervicofacial subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum secondary to dental treatment in a young man.

The occurrence of cervicofacial subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum is very rare but can be potentially life-threatening. These complications can happen during or after bronchoscopic or dental procedures, esophageal rupture or perforation, infections involving the head and neck and alveolar rupture in the setting of an inciting event such as asthma. The symptoms can appear promptly after the inciting event, but can also be delayed or do not reach maximal intensity for hours.