Extensive craniocervical pneumocranium.

Abstract

The authors report the first case of extensive craniocervical pneumocranium causing mass effect, without any associated extradural pneumatocele. The patient presented with frontal headaches and unusual sensations in his left ear. He was found to have large pneumocranium involving his left frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital bones as well as the atlas. He underwent a craniectomy with replacement of the pneumatized bone with titanium mesh, and mastoidectomy with obliteration of the mastoid air cells. This case is discussed in the context of the literature to date. A review of the literature shows that trauma is not a common cause of pneumocranium, with most cases occurring spontaneously. The authors believe that a combined neurosurgical-otological approach is beneficial in such cases.