Turkish Neurosurgery
2004 , Vol 14 , Num 3-4
Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea Associated
Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
Temporal lobe meningoencephalocele in the lateral sphenoid sinus is an
uncommon, and potentially dangerous, pathological condition. Adult patients
with meningoencephalocele in the sphenoid sinus often present with
spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and should be considered for
transsphenoidal or transcranial repair. Surgical repair of this fistula is
recommended in order to reduce the risk of meningitis. Temporal lobe
encephaloceles in the lateral sphenoid sinus have rarely been reported. Careful
preoperative evaluation and localization of the sphenoid defect are critical for
the selection of the optimal surgical approach for the repair of the skull base
defect. Unfortunately, the definite location of the fistula is often difficult to
establish. In this report, we present a 42-year-old female who had cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea without meningitis for three years. We also discuss the
relevant medical literature emphasizing the difficulty of making the diagnosis
and the treatment approach.
Keywords :
Meningitis, meningoencephalocele, sphenoid sinus, spontaneous rhinorrhea