Frontoethmoid osteoma with pneumocephalus: options for surgical management

Pneumocephalus is an exceedingly rare complication associated with neurological deficit in cases of frontoethmoid osteoma. The overarching management strategy for affected patients remains undefined. We describe the case of a 61-year-old female patient presenting with frontoethmoid osteoma manifesting as profound intraparenchymal pneumocephalus and associated neurological deficit, treated through a minimally invasive combined surgical strategy involving image-guided burr hole decompression of the pneumocephalus followed by transnasal endoscopic removal of the tumor. Using this approach, the patient rapidly recovered full neurologic function. We review the existing literature and, given the likely intraparenchymal location of pneumocephalus associated with these lesions with the potential of rapid clinical deterioration, recommend aggressive surgical management. Although these lesions can be removed from a purely endoscopic approach, we recommend burr-hole decompression of the pneumocephalus as an adjunct to ensure prompt resolution of the neurologic symptoms.