PNEUMOCEPHALUS DUE TO NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA - CASE-REPORT

A 55-year-old man with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma presented wi th intractable headaches and intermittent rhinorrhoea for 2 weeks, CT showed severe destruction of the skull base by the tumour. The headach e persisted despite intraventricular morphine, On the 29th hospital da y, sudden onset of neurological deterioration led to coma, and CT reve aled tension pneumocephalus due to nasopharyngeal carcinoma breaking t hrough the skull base. The literature on pneumocephalus is reviewed an d the aetiology discussed.