Spontaneous Pneumocephalus associated with leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor in an adult; A rare case report

Objective

To report a rare case of otogenic tension pneumocephalus as a complication of a diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor in a patient with a ventriculoperitoneal (V. P.) shunt.

Patients

Twenty-three- year-old man with a confirmed diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor diagnosis was treated for temporal bone defect and considerable pneumocephalus one year after V. P. shunt.

Intervention(s)

The patient underwent a Transmastoid, retrolabyrinthine approach. The defect was closed with temporalis facia graft and conchal cartilage as a double-layer closure, and then DuraSeal® was placed over the repaired area.

Main outcome measure(s)

Resolution of the pneumocephalus.

Results

There was a significant reduction in the pneumocephalus on the first day post-operatively.

Conclusions

Spontaneous or secondary pneumocephalus development should be considered in patients with brain tumors, hydrocephalus, and patients who undergo V.P. shunt insertion.