• Javier Arnaiz, Enrique Marco de Lucas, Tatiana Piedra, Maria Elena Arnaiz Garcia, Ashesh D Patel, and Agustin Gutierrez.
• Department of Radiology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Avenida Valdecilla s/n, Santander, Spain. javierarnaiz@hotmail.com
• Arch. Neurol. 2011 May 1;68(5):661-4.

ObjectiveTo describe for the first time, to our knowledge, a case of recurrent in-flight-dependent seizures related to commercial airline flight in which the patient experienced a fatal air embolism secondary to a giant bronchogenic cyst.DesignCase report.SettingUniversity hospital.PatientA female airline passenger presented with a seizure, then unconsciousness and death. The patient had experienced 2 previous episodes of in-flight seizures without any sequelae.ResultsThe patient had an air embolism proved by findings on cranial computed tomography (CT) and a CT perfusion study. The embolism was secondary to a giant bronchogenic cyst that was evident on chest CT. The patient was examined after the previous episodes of in-flight seizures, but no chest radiography had been performed.ConclusionsWe propose minor air embolism as a cause of in-flight seizures. This type of seizure can signify the existence of a giant bronchogenic cyst. We believe that obtaining a chest radiograph can be useful in patients with a history of in-flight seizures to rule out the presence of a bronchogenic cyst and to prevent a possibly fatal air embolism.

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