Pneumocephalus after Pancoast's tumor surgery: To be or not to be conservative?

We report a case of a 62-year-old man affected by Pancoast's tumor who developed pneumocephalus 17 days after right upper lobectomy with en bloc resection of the first three ribs and C8-D1 branches of the brachial plexus. The patient complained of aphasia, disorientation and sphincterial release. A chest and brain-CT scan showed a right apical pneumothorax associated with a massive pneumocephalus of the ventricles and of the subarachnoidal spaces. A pneumoperitoneum was also seen. The patient was treated using pleural drainages, Trendelenburg's position and antibiotic therapy. Clinical and radiological remission was achieved after 12 days of additional hospital stay.