Traumatic cerebrospinal fluid fistula simulating tears. Case report.
A young child developed delayed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea and CSF leak from the eye presenting as tears. The "tears" were CSF which had tracked from the cribriform plate through the ethmoidal air sinuses to the medial aspect of the left orbit. There was marked chemosis and it was considered likely that the tears had leaked through damaged conjunctiva.
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000293:injuries; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000293:injuries; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D013666:Tears