Meningitis and congenital fistula of the internal ear.
Congenital CSF otorrhea is seldom the cause of meningitis but has to be looked for especially if associated with a dead ear or with recurrent meningitis. Polytomograms of the mastoids are essential to rule out any abnormality of the internal ear. Three patients with a congenital CSF otorrhea and associated meningitis are reviewed. They all presented a Mondini type of dysplasia and had an oval window fistula. They were treated successfully with fascia and muscle obliteration of the vestibule.
D000293:Adolescent; D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003051:Cochlea / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003638:Deafness / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000209:etiology*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications; D010046:Oval Window, Ear / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012008:Recurrence; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray