Physicians discovered huge air cavities in the skull of an 84-year-old man

Air can enter - but not out: Huge hole discovered in the skull of an old man

In Northern Ireland, an elderly man hospitalized after a series of falls has amazed physicians. The doctors found a huge air-filled cave where a part of his brain should have been. Nevertheless, the patient decided against surgery.

Complaints indicated a stroke

According to media reports, in Northern Ireland, an 84-year-old man was transferred to a hospital by his doctor after a series of falls. According to the information, the patient had felt unsteady on the legs for months, fell more frequently and had a feeling of weakness in his left arm and leg the three days before the clinic was admitted. The symptoms suggested a stroke. But the complaints were caused by another problem: The patient had a huge hole in the skull.

Doctors in Northern Ireland have discovered a huge hole in the skull of an 84-year-old patient. The air cavity was created by penetrating air that could not get out. (Image: the_lightwriter / fotolia.com)

Air filled cavity in the skull

As the British newspaper "The Guardian" reported, first blood tests in the clinic showed nothing unusual.

There was also no evidence of facial weakness, speech problems or confusion in the patient.

The 84-year-old was fit and healthy, did not need help with physical activity, did not smoke and rarely drank alcohol.

However, in medical imaging (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, the medical team eventually detected a nine-centimeter air-filled cavity in the right frontal lobe of the brain.

In addition, they noted a benign bone tumor on the paranasal sinuses, as the physicians report in the journal "BMJ Case Studies".

Air was able to penetrate sneezing and coughing

According to co-author dr. Finlay Brown's tumor "has grown slowly over time and has put pressure on the base of his skull and caused a small erosion."

He continued, "And because air flows through the sinuses, the air can move through them and through erosion into the skull."

According to Brown, the eroded area and the tissue above had formed a one-way valve. "The air can go in, but it can not get out again," says the doctor.

And this especially at high pressure, as it is generated for example when sneezing or coughing.

While it looked as if some of the brain had disappeared on the scans, according to Brown, this had not been the case; rather, the air cavity had compressed the brain.

Patient refused operation

The patient was offered the option of surgery to reduce brain pressure, eradicate erosion, and remove the bone tumor.

The 84-year-old, however, decided not to carry out the procedure because of the possible risks and was discharged from the clinic.

According to the authors, the left-sided weakness of the patient disappeared after twelve weeks, but what happens next is unclear.

"Theoretically, the brain could possibly absorb some of the air, or the body could absorb some, but it could get worse. We just do not know, "Brown said, adding that there was also a risk of infection and a risk of stroke.

"He actually had a small stroke, probably because of the pressure effect over time, and I suspect that there is a risk that this will happen again," said the doctor. According to Brown, the patient had been treated preventively.

The doctor also explained that he had previously seen air in the cranial cavities of other patients, but the size and location of the air chamber was remarkable in the case of the 84-year-old.

"I've never seen anything like it," Brown said. "I can not imagine that I'll ever see it again." (Ad)