Rare Presentation of a Rare Disease Subcutaneous Emphysema due to an Endo-Bronchial Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: A Case Report

Endobronchial form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a rare cause of airway obstruction, which is often confused with other respiratory pathologies like bronchial asthma. Subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum as complications of endobronchial NHL are extremely rare, and reported only once before. We report a rare case of endobronchial NHL, who presented with features of poorly controlled bronchial asthma, later complicated with pneumomediastinum and extensive subcutaneous emphysema. Urgent contrast enhanced computer tomography (CECT) of chest and neck demonstrated a large infiltrative mass lesion at the carina with both intraluminal and extraluminal components extending to both main bronchi, resulting in near total occlusion of the right main bronchus. Fiber-optic bronchoscopy revealed an endobronchial mass at the carina with significant obstruction of bilateral bronchi. She subsequently underwent debulking surgery followed by chemotherapy.