[Pneumocephalus and cerebrospinal fluid fistula following removal of a superior sulcus tumor (pancoast tumor)].
Pneumocephalus resulting from a subarachnoid-pleural fistula following resection of a pulmonary neoplasm is a very rare postoperative complication: we have found only 17 cases in the literature. We report the case of a 65-year-old man diagnosed with a superior sulcus tumor who underwent a left upper lobectomy and costal resection following neoadjuvant radiation therapy. Soon after surgery, the patient developed a subarachnoid-pleural fistula and pneumocephalus that required reoperation and drainage. Recurrence was suspected when chronic aseptic meningitis developed. Another thoracotomy was required to resolve the complication.
Sección de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital General Universitario, Albacete, Spain. bdeo@sescam.jccm.es
B
B
de Olaiz Navarro
P
P
León Atance
A
A
Alix Trueba
D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000209:etiology*; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D010178:Pancoast Syndrome / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000209:etiology*; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012086:Reoperation; D016156:Respiratory Tract Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D013346:Subarachnoid Space; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed