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Pneumomediastinum is defined as an abnormal accumulation of air within the mediastinum. It occurs most often when increased alveolar pressure leads to alveolar rupture, and less frequently when there is perforation of the tracheobronchial tree. Pressure gradients then allow air to spread via the fascia to the surrounding soft tissues, mediastinum, and/or retroperitoneum. This is a report of a case of pneumomediastinum following endobronchial ultrasound- guided fine needle aspiration (EBUS/TBNA) of the mediastinal lymph nodes, widely regarded as a safe procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic, granulomatous disease with particular involvement in the lungs and the intrathoracic lymph nodes. Pleural fluid has been reported to occur in 0% to 5% of the cases in the literature. Diagnosis depends on the presence of noncaseating granulomas in the biopsy sample and the exclusion of other possibilities. A 77-year-old woman with complaints of shortness of breath and a dry cough was found to have non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation in pleural biopsy and computed tomography guided transthoracic Tru-Cut biopsy specimens. This was a rare case in which partial recovery was achieved through treatment with methylprednisolone for a year in reduced doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]