A novel cause of pneumocephalus.

BACKGROUND

Pneumocephalus is rare, mostly arising as a complication of surgery, trauma, infection, or neoplasm.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to briefly discuss the etiology and Emergency Department evaluation of patients with pneumocephalus.

CASE REPORT

We present a case of a spontaneous esophageal-arachnoid fistula in a patient with stage IV non-small cell carcinoma leading to spontaneous pneumocephalus with resulting meningitis and death.

CONCLUSIONS

Although usually asymptomatic, pneumocephalus can lead to tension pneumocephalus, a potentially fatal condition, or septic meningitis, if it is the result of infection from gas-producing bacteria.