Tension pneumocephalus in association with ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
The authors report a case of tension pneumocephalus in association with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for obstructive hydrocephalus, due to the presence of a pineal tumour. In this unique form of tension pneumocephalus, air from the middle ear must have penetrated into the brain parenchyma and later on into the ventricular system through pre-existing congenital defects in the bony tegmen tympani and the covering dura mater. The possible pathogenetic mechanisms of this kind of tension pneumocephalus are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010537:Peritoneum; D010870:Pineal Gland; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed