A Rare Case of Spontaneous Pneumothorax Leading to Cerebral Air Embolism

Cerebral arterial air embolism (CAE), a rare subtype of air embolism, carries a 21% mortality rate. We present a unique case involving a 69-year-old female with a history of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) who suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA) due to CAE. Unlike typical cases, CAE in this instance resulted from spontaneous pneumothorax, not the more common iatrogenic causes. Adding complexity, an unexpected discovery emerged during evaluation: a patent foramen ovale, contributing to paradoxical embolism. This underscores the vital need to consider CAE as a differential diagnosis in UIP patients with neurological symptoms, highlighting its rarity and diagnostic challenges.