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Spontaneous pneumocephalus caused by pneumococcal meningitis

Hyun Sook Kim1, Seok Won Kim, Sung Hoon Kim

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
|July 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Pneumocephalus, or intracranial air, is rarely caused by meningitis. This case highlights spontaneous pneumocephalus due to pneumococcal meningitis, successfully treated with antibiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Pneumocephalus, the presence of air within the cranial cavity, is predominantly associated with head trauma or neurosurgical interventions.
  • Meningitis is an exceptionally rare etiology for pneumocephalus when head trauma or surgery is absent.

Observation:

  • A rare case of spontaneous pneumocephalus was observed.
  • The patient presented with symptoms suggestive of meningitis.
  • Radiographic and computed tomography (CT) imaging of the skull indicated the presence of intracranial air.

Findings:

  • Cerebrospinal fluid analysis confirmed bacterial meningitis, specifically Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • The patient received antibiotic treatment for the meningitis.
  • Imaging follow-up demonstrated complete resolution of the intracranial air after two weeks of treatment.

Implications:

  • This case underscores that meningitis, particularly pneumococcal meningitis, can be an unusual cause of spontaneous pneumocephalus.
  • Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy are crucial for managing this rare condition.
  • The findings emphasize the importance of considering infectious etiologies in cases of pneumocephalus without a clear traumatic or surgical history.
Keywords:
MeningitisPneumocephalus

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