Effective but uncommon treatment of a spontaneous otogenic epidural pneumocephalus

Abstract

We describe an uncommon treatment for epidural pneumocephalus and an effective but uncommon treatment option. Complete and permanent relief was achieved in a young patient using a tympanostomy tube to eliminate excessive positive air pressure in the mastoid bone that was the cause of spontaneous pneumocephalus. The patient showed no recurrence and absence of clinical symptoms at outpatient follow-up. Post-traumatic, infectious or spontaneous pneumocephalus may require an active, usually surgical approach. Treatment with a tympanostomy tube can be an alternative in suitable patients.

Keywords: ear, nose and throat; headache (including migraines); neurosurgery; radiology; trauma CNS/PNS.