PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea is a dangerous and potentially life threatening occurrence for which the otolaryngologist is often consulted. CSF otorrhea occurs on the basis of skull fracture, tumor, infections, congenital anomalies, and operative trauma. Forty-three patients with CSF otorrhea of varied etiology are reviewed in this paper. Eight cases are of congenital or labyrinthine origin confirming at surgery the probable connection between the subarachnoid and perilymphatic spaces. Eleven cases had spinal fluid otorrhea due to infection. All cases presented with symptoms of chronic infection: 4 cases had a history of previous surgery for chronic ear disease; 7 cases had temporal lobe abscess; 1 case had a cerebellar abscess; 8 had tegmen defects secondary to cholesteatoma; in 1 case the tegmen defect was due to previous surgery for chronic infection. Nine of 11 cases have serviceable hearing postoperatively. Fourteen cases of spinal fluid otorrhea resulted from trauma: 1 case was due to traumatic stapes footplate fracture in a congenitally malformed ear; 4 were due to transverse temporal bone fracture; and 9 were due to longitudinal temporal bone fractures. All transverse fractures resulted in nonhearing ears. Three cases were due to a combination of temporal bone fracture and infection. In 2 of these cases chronic infection preceded the fracture; in 1 case the fracture led to chronic ear disease with spinal fluid leakage. One patient required 1 surgical procedure for closure of the otorrhea, 1 patient 2 procedures, and 1 patient 3 procedures. Ten cases are due to translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma removal: 7 cases had resolution of the spinal fluid leakage after conservative nonsurgical treatment; and 3 required surgical intervention using muscle, fat and fascia obliteration of the spinal fluid pathway.

Adolescent↗

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea.

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea is rare. We present four new cases and an analysis of the literature. Two distinct subtypes occur. Seventy-two percent of cases are the childhood type with congenital defects of the otic capsule. Meningitis, usually pneumococcal and frequently recurrent, occurs in 92% of these cases. CSF otorrhea follows myringotomy for a presumed serous effusion. The child usually has unilateral and sometimes bilateral absence of cochlear and vestibular function and commonly exhibits a Mondini deformity. CSF usually enters the inner ear through a dural defect in the lateral aspect of the internal auditory canal and exists through the oval window. Treatment should consist of stapedectomy and packing of the vestibule with muscle or subtotal petrosectomy. Twenty-eight percent of cases of spontaneous CSF otorrhea are the adult type characterized by bony dehiscenses, most commonly of the tegmen tympani or tegmen mastoideum and less commonly of the posterior fossa plate. The meningeal defects are either meningoencephaloceles or simply holes in the dura. Therapy should consist of a mastoidectomy in conjunction with a transtemporal supralabyrinthine (middle fossa) approach if a meningoencephalocele of the tegmen is found.

Adolescent↗

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea.

A case of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea with recurrent meningitis is reported. The route of cerebrospinal fluid leak was through the internal auditory meatus. The cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea was stopped by packing the meatus with muscle and Gelfoam.

Bacterial Infections↗

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea.

A case of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea due to a congenital tegmen tympani defect is reported. The etiology and pathogenesis of cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea and of the spontaneous congenital form in particular is discussed, together with the clinical picture and the methods of diagnosis. Reviewing the literature, a middle ear exploration is considered to be the procedure of choice to ascertain the presence and determine the exact locus of the cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Bone Transplantation↗

Transferrin analysis by immunofixation as an aid in the diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea.

Laboratory diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid leakage has been unreliable and has required expensive, labor-intensive radiographic procedures. Recently, using protein electrophoresis and immunofixation, the presence of an isoform of transferrin present only in cerebrospinal fluid has been identified. We describe the value of this simple test in a patient with recurrent meningitis in whom repeated radiographic studies failed to demonstrate a leak.

Adolescent↗

Diagnosis and management of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, surgical management, and outcome of patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. METHODS: The authors conducted a chart review of all previously unreported cases of surgically confirmed cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea at their institution between September 1996 and February 2005. Acquired cases were excluded from this study. Eleven cases of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea were identified among 10 patients. RESULTS: Nine of the 10 patients presenting with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea were women. Ages ranged from 34 to 79 years. Eight patients presented with serous otitis media, and two women presented with meningitis. High-resolution computed tomography demonstrated a tegmen defect with a sensitivity of 80%. Nine tegmen defects were repaired using a transmastoid approach without recurrence. One patient with a contracted mastoid and a meningoencephalocele herniating from the tegmen tympani into the attic required the temporal craniotomy approach for definitive repair. Another patient with a tegmen tympani defect developed a recurrence of cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea 8 years after a transmastoid repair using only fascia and fibrin glue. A recurrent tegmen defect in this patient was repaired using a transmastoid approach and a multilayered closure technique. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea requires clinical suspicion in the setting of persistent serous otitis media. High-resolution computed tomography can confirm the diagnosis. The authors' findings indicate that repair through a transmastoid approach is effective if the tegmen defect can be widely visualized. The authors advocate a multilayered closure technique.

Adult↗

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea and rhinorrhea coexisting in a patient with meningitis.

Congenital (spontaneous) cerebrospinal fluid fistulae are uncommon, potentially dangerous, pathological conditions. Most present in childhood with repeated bouts of meningitis, although presentation in adulthood with an asymptomatic nasal mass has been well documented. Radiologic work-up of the patient will usually reveal an abnormality in either the labyrinth or the base of the skull. A patient is presented who had both spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea and rhinorrhea. Three anatomic defects were identified as potentially accountable: a round window fistula, a meningoencephalocele and an empty sella turcica.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea↗

Diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea.

Two consecutively operated-on adult cases with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea were reviewed. Three meningoencephaloceles through tegmental defects were found. Each cele was peduculated through a small dural dehiscence partially obstructed by herniated brain. The otic capsule was normal in both cases. Bipolar cautery was used to reduce the size of the meningoencephalocele and to allow this tissue to assist in the closure of the defect. Conchal cartilage was placed through the tegmental defect to act as a self maintaining intracranial repair of the bony dehiscence. These cases and the literature suggest that fistulization of dura is more frequently the cause of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea in adults than is a defect in the otic capsule. Thus, direct surgical inspection of these areas is required.

Adult↗

Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea through a congenitally patent fallopian canal.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea is a relatively rare entity that may occur either as a spontaneous occurrence or as a result of trauma or surgery. Spontaneous CSF leaks may be found during tympanocentesis, myringotomy, or tube insertion for chronic middle ear effusion. Rapid identification of the problem and timely treatment are required to avoid life-threatening complications such as meningitis. The site of leakage must also be identified so that the disorder can be treated effectively. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and radionucleotide localization scanning all play a role in the early identification of the leakage site. A detailed knowledge of possible CSF leakage pathways aids in evaluating imaging studies. We report 2 rare cases of CSF otorrhea through a congenitally patent facial canal and their management.

Adult↗

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea in a deaf infant.

Spontaneous (congenital) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea is a rare occurrence with less than 100 cases being reported in the literature. In infants and children, it may present as otitis media with effusion. A 4-month-old infant, who was diagnosed with severe to profound sensorineural hearing impairment and spontaneous CSF otorrhea, initially presented with otitis media with effusion. The patient presentation, diagnostic dilemmas and pathophysiology of this rare but interesting problem are discussed.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea↗

Surgical treatment of cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea. Translabyrinthine approach in posterior petrous bone fractures.

The authors intend to define the treatment of cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea according to the type of fracture involving the petrous bone. Fractures of the petrous bone causing cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea can be classified in two types: (1) fractures extending anteriorly toward the anterior foramen lacerus; (2) fractures extending posteriorly through the labyrinth to the internal auditory meatus. The former usually resolve spontaneously; the latter, because of different anatomy and embryogenesis, require a surgical procedure using a translabyrinthine approach.

Adolescent↗

Bilateral spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea.

We present a rare case of bilateral cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea via multiple bony defects in the left tegmen and a single defect with the herniated brain tissue on the right side. Initially, the patient complained of left hearing loss and fullness and was diagnosed with serous otitis media. After myringotomy, the pulsating watery discharge suggested CSF otorrhea. Five months after surgical repair of the left side, right-side CSF leakage occurred. The right side was repaired surgically, and the patient recovered without incident. From our findings and a review of the literature, we postulate that bilateral CSF otorrhea resulted mainly from the thinness of the tegmen because of well-pneumatized mastoid air cells and the weakness of the dura after chronic inflammatory changes. In case of spontaneous CSF otorrhea, the roof of tegmen should be assessed bilaterally with care using radiologic examinations so as not to overlook a subclinical condition on the contralateral side.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea↗

Tegmental defects and cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea.

Congenital tegmental defects that present as unsuspected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea are diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We reviewed 5 such patients to determine an optimal strategy for evaluation. Five patients presented with watery otorrhea, 4 of them after ventilation tube placement, and only 1 with rhinorrhea. The preoperative analysis of middle ear effusion for beta(2)-transferrin was positive in 2/4, equivocal in 1/4 and false negative in 1/4. Computerized tomography (CT) revealed nonspecific tegmental defects in all 5 patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated meningoencephalocele in 3/5 and dural irregularity in 1/5. Tegmental defects were confirmed at surgery in all cases, demonstrating meningocele or arachnoid granulations in 2/5 and encephalocele in 2/5 patients. We recommend a combination of beta(2)-transferrin analysis to verify CSF, high resolution CT (axial and coronal planes) to diagnose tegmental defects, and MRI (multiplanar) to evaluate the type of herniation. A combination mastoid and middle fossa approach for definitive repair is suggested.

Aged↗

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea. Congenital anomaly of bony labyrinth a possible cause.

A patient had recurrent meningitis as a result of a congenital anomaly of the bony labyrinth. As far as could be traced in the literature, this was the first time that an isolated congenital anomaly of the bony labyrinth could be shown to be the origin of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea and the resulting recurrent meningitis. In cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea of unknown origin, tomographic x-ray examination of the bony labyrinth is of utmost importance. For the detection of the finer details is the bony structure of the labyrinth, this tomography should be done according to one of the multidirectional techniques.

Adolescent↗