OBJECTIVE: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder that occurs mainly among young females and its prevalence has increased in recent decades. METHODS: We reported a patient with AN with spontaneous diffuse soft tissue emphysema and bicytopenia, both of which are very rare complications of AN. Our patient, a 20-year-old woman, had lost 41.6% of her previous body weight within 9 months. Her body mass index was 10.8 and amenorrhea had persisted for 5 months. RESULTS: After admission, she was diagnosed with AN-restrictive subtype. She was noted to have crunching sounds in the neck and upper chest wall during hospitalization. A chest X-ray and chest computed tomography scan both revealed diffuse soft tissue emphysema including subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and pneumoretroperitoneum. DISCUSSION: Diffuse soft tissue emphysema improved gradually and completely resolved on the 21st day of hospitalization. This condition seems to be benign and only a short period of hospitalization is required.
OBJECTIVE:Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder that occurs mainly among young females and its prevalence has increased in recent decades. METHODS: We reported a patient with AN with spontaneous diffuse soft tissue emphysema and bicytopenia, both of which are very rare complications of AN. Our patient, a 20-year-old woman, had lost 41.6% of her previous body weight within 9 months. Her body mass index was 10.8 and amenorrhea had persisted for 5 months. RESULTS: After admission, she was diagnosed with AN-restrictive subtype. She was noted to have crunching sounds in the neck and upper chest wall during hospitalization. A chest X-ray and chest computed tomography scan both revealed diffuse soft tissue emphysema including subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and pneumoretroperitoneum. DISCUSSION: Diffuse soft tissue emphysema improved gradually and completely resolved on the 21st day of hospitalization. This condition seems to be benign and only a short period of hospitalization is required.