Spontaneous pneumocephalus in a newborn infant with myelomeningocele and hydromyelia.
The authors report a preterm boy, born at 35 weeks gestation with hydrocephalus and an open sacral myelomeningocele. Cranial ultrasound showed ventricular dilatation with posture-dependent intraventricular bright echoes, representing air. Ultrasound of the cervical spine and the craniocervical junction revealed marked hydromyelia of the whole spinal cord, as well as a Chiari II malformation. Air penetrating the enlarged central canal through the neural tube defect and subsequently ascending to the cranial cavity was demonstrated by fluoroscopy. After a review of the literature, the authors conclude that the association of spontaneous pneumocephalus with myelomeningocele could indicate severe hydromyelia. These malformations are readily demonstrated by ultrasound in newborn infants.
Trawöger
R
R
University Clinic for Pediatrics, Innsbruck, Austria.
Strasser
K
K
Ellemunter
H
H
Gassner
I
I
D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging