Surgery for severe pneumocephalus caused by Gorham-Stout disease: a case report and literature review

Abstract Background Gorham-Stout disease (GSD) is an extremely rare bone resorption disease, and there are few reports of GSD affecting the skull and cervical spine. We report a rare case of severe pneumocephalus caused by GSD in the past decade. Satisfactory results were achieved through surgical treatment. Case presentation: The patient had been diagnosed with GSD for 14 years, during which the patient's skull began to dissolve from the occipital bone, and the cervical spine was gradually affected. One day before admission, the patient experienced severe headache and vomiting, and a head CT scan showed severe pneumocephalus. After admission, the patient underwent fistula repair surgery. One year after surgery, the patient's condition remained stable. Conclusion There is currently no effective unified treatment plan for GSD. Here, we provide a case in which severe pneumocephalus caused by GSD was effectively treated through surgery, which provides treatment ideas for similar patients.