Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and recurrent meningitis.
Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea is the result of transdural communication between the subarachnoid space and the skull base. A transdural fistula may originate from the anterior, middle, or posterior cranial compartments. All skull-base sites of leakage potentially lead to the nasal cavity. Recurrent meningitis is commonly associated with such a direct source of bacterial contamination. Organisms associated with recurrent meningitis secondary to cerebrospinal fluid leaks are commonly found in the upper respiratory tract. We report a case of recurrent meningitis in a 5-year-old girl that highlights the problem of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, and we discuss etiology, current diagnostic techniques, and surgical management.
Pappas
D G
DG
Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016.
Hammerschlag
P E
PE
Hammerschlag
M
M
D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence