title: Commercial flight and patients with intracranial mass lesions: a caveat. Report of two cases.
abstract: The authors report two cases of neurological deterioration following long commercial flights. Both individuals harbored intracranial space-occupying lesions. The authors assert that preexisting reduced intracranial compliance diminishes an individual's reserve to accommodate the physiological changes resulting from a commercial flight. Airline passengers are exposed to a mild degree of hypercapnia as well as conditions that simulate those of high-altitude ascents. High-altitude cerebral edema following an ascent to great heights is one facet of acute mountain sickness and can be life threatening in conditions similar to those present on commercial flights. Comparable reports documenting neurological deterioration at high altitudes in patients with coexisting space-occupying lesions were also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ludvic U
authors.initials: LU
authors.lastname: Zrinzo
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crocker
authors.forename: Laurence V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Zrinzo
authors.forename: David G T
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Watkins
mesh_terms: D000401:Aircraft; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002535:Cerebral Aqueduct / Q000473:pathology; D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014195:Travel; D014973:Xanthomatosis / Q000175:diagnosis*