Open AccessSpontaneous Otogenic Pneumocephalus: Reporting a Unique Site of Dehiscence
Author(s) -
Stewart Matthew,
Farrell Christopher,
Pelosi Stanley
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
oto open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2473-974X
DOI - 10.1177/2473974x18821931
Subject(s) - pneumocephalus , medicine , dehiscence , middle cranial fossa , surgery , vertigo , skull , temporal bone , sensorineural hearing loss , magnetic resonance imaging , hearing loss , radiology , computed tomography , audiology
P neumocephalus is the presence of air in the intracranial space and is usually caused by trauma, tumor, or infection. Spontaneous occurrences of pneumocephalus, however, are very rare and generally result from a skull base defect. In this report, we present a case of spontaneous otogenic pneumocephalus that developed during an airplane flight. We believe that this is the first report of spontaneous pneumocephalus involving the petrous apex. A combined right transmastoid and middle fossa surgical approach was performed to repair the defect, followed by no recurrence of symptoms.