Which symptom is typically associated with mediastinal emphysema?

Mediastinal emphysema, also known as pneumomediastinum, involves the presence of air in the mediastinum, the central compartment of the thoracic cavity. One of the hallmark symptoms of this condition is chest pain, often described as being located behind the sternum.

This chest pain results from the irritation of the mediastinal structures due to the presence of air, which can lead to inflammation and discomfort. Patients often report this pain as sharp or pressure-like, depending on the extent of the air accumulation and associated complications.

While other symptoms such as persistent cough, ear fullness, and difficulty breathing could be related to various respiratory or cardiac conditions, they are not specifically symptomatic of mediastinal emphysema. For instance, a cough may occur due to irritation or inflammation but is not classically associated with the condition itself like the chest pain behind the sternum. Therefore, the connection of the symptom to the pathology of mediastinal emphysema supports the choice of chest pain behind the sternum as the typical symptom associated with this condition.