title: Progressive tension pneumocephalus as a delayed postoperative complication in the absence of any obvious CSF leak.
abstract: Tension pneumocephalus is a rare neurosurgical emergency usually causing rapid deterioration. Slowly-progressive postoperative tension pneumocephalus is very rare. We present a case that came to our attention 5 weeks after a craniotomy with gradual development of symptoms, and in the absence of any obvious CSF leak. A dural defect causing a one-way valve system was found at explorative craniotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. andreas.demetriades@gmail.com
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Demetriades
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pretorius
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stacey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D065634:Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome