Case Report: Suspected low-pressure hydrocephalus following surgical treatment of traumatic brain injury in a patient with subsequently diagnosed glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) represents the most prevalent primary malignant neoplasm of the central nervous system, frequently presenting with clinical manifestations such as elevated intracranial pressure, focal neurological deficits, and seizures. The incidental detection and diagnosis of glioblastoma two months subsequent to surgical intervention for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is exceptionally uncommon, and a causal link between TBI and subsequent glioma development remains unsubstantiated. To our knowledge, reports of low intracranial pressure hydrocephalus as a consequence of tumor resection surgery are very limited. In this report, we detail the case of a 50-year-old female patient who underwent surgical management for TBI. Two months postoperatively, space-occupying lesions were identified, prompting surgical resection, which confirmed the diagnosis of GBM through pathological examination. Following surgery, the patient received standard radiotherapy and chemotherapy. During her treatment course, she was hospitalized due to complications related to bone marrow suppression and suspected low-pressure hydrocephalus. Despite exhaustive therapeutic interventions, the patient ultimately succumbed to diffuse cerebral edema and brain herniation. This rare case involves a patient who, two months post-surgery for traumatic brain injury, unexpectedly identified a space-occupying lesion in the brain. Subsequent diagnostic evaluation confirmed the lesion as glioblastoma. Despite comprehensive treatment, the patient ultimately succumbed to tumor recurrence, bone marrow suppression, and low intracranial pressure. This case serves as a reference for the incidental discovery and subsequent treatment strategies in asymptomatic GBM patients, while also providing insights into treatment and research approaches for suspected low-pressure hydrocephalus occurring during the disease course. While noting that only a temporal association-not causation-can be inferred between TBI and GBM based on this single report.