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Introduction: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is defined as the presence of air in the mediastinum. It is a rare entity considered benign and self-limiting, which mostly affects young adults. Its diagnosis is confirmed through clinical and radiological studies. Case description: 21-year-old male patient with cough and greenish expectoration for four days, associated with dyspnea, chest pain, fever and bilateral supraclavicular subcutaneous emphysema. Chest X-ray suggested pneumomediastinum, which was confirmed by tomography. The patient was hospitalized for observation and treatment. After a positive evolution, he was discharged on the sixth day. Discussion: SPM is a differential diagnosis in patients with chest pain and dyspnea. Its prevalence is lower than 0.01% and its mortality rate is low. It should be suspected in patients with chest pain and subcutaneous emphysema on physical examination. Between 70 and 90% of the cases can be identified by chest X-ray, while confirmation can be obtained through chest tomography. In most cases it does not require additional studies. Conclusion: SPM is a little known cause of acute chest pain, and rarely considered as a differential diagnosis; it is self-limited and has a good prognosis.

Introduction. Pulmonary infarction occurs in 29% to 32% of patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). The infection of a pulmonary infarction is a complication in approximately 2 to 7% of the cases, which makes it a rare entity. Case description. 49-year-old woman with pleuritic pain in the left hemithorax that irradiated to the dorsal region, associated with dyspnea and painful edema in the left lower limb of two days of evolution. Two weeks prior to admission, the patient suffered from a left knee trauma that required surgical intervention; however, due to unknown reasons, she did not receive antithrombotic prophylaxis. Physical examination showed tachycardia, tachypnea and painful edema with erythema in the left leg. After suspecting a pulmonary thromboembolism, anticoagulation medication was administered and a chest angiotomography was requested to confirm the diagnosis. The patient experienced signs of systemic inflammatory response, and respiratory deterioration. A control tomography was performed, suggesting infected pulmonary infarction. Antibiotic treatment was initiated, obtaining progressive improvement; the patient was subsequently discharged, and continued with anticoagulation medication and follow-up on an outpatient basis. Conclusions. Pulmonary infarction is a frequent complication in patients with PTE. Therefore, infected pulmonary infarction should be suspected in patients with clinical deterioration and systemic inflammatory response. The radiological difference between pulmonary infarction and pneumonia is not easily identified, thus the diagnostic approach is clinical, and anticoagulant and antimicrobial treatment should be initiated in a timely manner.