title: Post-traumatic epidural tension pneumocephalus: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pneumocephalus is usually a self-limiting condition commonly associated with neurosurgical interventions, head and facial trauma. In contrast, tension pneumocephalus is extremely rare, and considered a neurosurgical emergency.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a rare case of post-traumatic epidural tension pneumocephalus in a 30-year-old white man who deteriorated rapidly after a blunt head trauma. Imaging revealed a large, right temporoparietal epidural pneumocephalus with mass effect, most likely arising from a small defect in the mastoid sinus. A pre-existing mucocele was also suspected. Emergency burr hole evacuation was performed and he experienced full recovery, but more invasive treatment was eventually needed to resolve the condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epidural tension pneumocephalus is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition, but treatable with the right management. To the best of our knowledge, a post-traumatic tension pneumocephalus caused by a pre-existing mucocele has not been reported in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. vidarrao@gmail.com.|Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. vidarrao@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vidar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. Oddrun.anita.fredriksli@stolav.no.|Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. Oddrun.anita.fredriksli@stolav.no.
authors.forename: Oddrun
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fredriksli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. Sasha.gulati@stolav.no.|Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. Sasha.gulati@stolav.no.
authors.forename: Sasha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gulati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D009078:Mucocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed