[Sore throat and subcutaneous emphysema in a 71-year-old patient].

A 71-year-old woman was admitted to our emergency department due to sore throat and swelling of the neck and face. She had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease grade 4 based on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Clinical examination revealed subcutaneous emphysema of the neck and face. CT scan of the thorax and abdomen showed air in the retroperitoneum, ascending through the mediastinum into the neck and face. Laparotomy confirmed the diagnosis of a retroperitoneal colon perforation due to colon diverticulitis. The colon was partially removed followed by a surgical debridement and Hartmann's procedure. The postoperative course was without complications, the clinical symptoms resolved rapidly.