Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-07T21:00:45.070Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Extensive and symptomatic cranial pneumatization: caused by frequent performance of Valsalva's manoeuvre?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Mette Nyrop*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Per K. Bjerre
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Johnny Christensen
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Karsten E. Jørgensen
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
*
Address for correspondence: Mette Nyrop, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark.

Abstract

Pneumocranium and spontaneous pneumocephalus are very rare disorders. We report a case in which the patient had suffered for some time from neck pain and neurological symptoms which originated from an extensively pneumatized cranium. The symptoms and the abnormal bone pneumatization disappeared after normalization of a high middle-ear pressure. The history and the findings suggest that the pathological pneumatization was caused by the patient's habit of frequently performing Valsalva's manoeuvre, in combination with the Eustachian tube functioning as a valve.

Type
Radiology in Focus
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Canavan, L., Osborn, R. E. (1991) Dural sinus air without head trauma or surgery: CT demonstration. Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography 15: 526527.Google ScholarPubMed
Ciuchi, V., Mercas, A., David, L. (1995) Fistule tubo-pétreuse avec soupape: à propos d'un cas (Considerations of a case of the tube-petrous fistula with valve). Revue de Laryngologie Otologie Rhinologie 116 (1): 5355.Google Scholar
Lo, W. W. M., Zapanta, E. (1983) Pneumatization of the occipital bone as a cause of radiolucent skill lesions. American Journal of Neuroradiology 4: 12491250.Google Scholar
Maier, W., Fradis, M., Scheremet, R. (1996) Spontaneous otogenic pneumocephalus. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 105: 300302.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Park, P., Chandler, W. F., Telian, S. A., Doran, S. (1998) Spontaneous chronic epidural pneumocephalus resulting from hyperpneumatization of the cranium causing mass effect. Neurosurgery 42 (6): 13841386.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sadler, D. J., Doyle, G. J., Hall, K., Crawford, P. J. (1996) Craniocervical bone pneumatisation. Neuroradiology 38: 330332.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sener, R. N. (1992) Air sinus in the occipital bone. American Journal of Radiology 159: 905.Google ScholarPubMed
Stavas, J., McGeachie, R. E., Turner, D. A., Nelson, M. J. (1987) Symptomatic intracranial pneumatocele from mastoid sinus of spontaneous origin. Journal of Neurosurgery 67: 773775.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed