title: Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea in a deaf infant.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Buffalo.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ryczko
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brodsky
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Stanievich
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pordell
mesh_terms: D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003638:Deafness / Q000151:congenital*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000002:abnormalities; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography