Open AccessTension pneumocephalus: the neurosurgical emergency equivalent of tension pneumothorax
Author(s) -
John Julian Harvey,
Simon Christopher Harvey,
Antonio Belli
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
bjr case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2055-7159
DOI - 10.1259/bjrcr.20150127
Subject(s) - medicine , tension pneumothorax , pneumocephalus , decompression , head trauma , pneumothorax , surgery , neurosurgery , craniofacial , emergency department , anesthesia , computed tomography , radiology , psychiatry
Tension pneumocephalus (TP) is the intracranial equivalent of tension pneumothorax. It is an unusual but life-threatening neurosurgical emergency, which has been described following head trauma, epidural injections or complicating neurological, spinal, craniofacial or sinus surgery. Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of TP are non-specific and the diagnosis must be made by prompt recognition of the classic imaging signs of TP, allowing lifesaving emergency decompression. We present a trauma patient demonstrating the “Mount Fuji” sign on an unenhanced CT scan of the brain, which is reportedly specific for TP.