title: Transnasal endoscopic closure of anterior fossa cerebrospinal fluid fistula.
abstract: The anterior skull base can be approached intranasally, and the development of endoscopes and accompanying endoscopic instruments in recent years makes possible extremely precise and defined work along the ethmoid and sphenoid sinus roof. Since these areas are the most frequent locations of anterior skull base CSF rhinorrhea, it follows that the localization and subsequent closure of these defects theoretically can be accomplished in this manner. Our report and others show that closure of CSF leaks can be accomplished successfully using this procedure, with minimal morbidity and at a fraction of the cost of frontal craniotomy. In our opinion, this should become the initial procedure of choice for closure of anterior fossa CSF leaks in amenable cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, AMI Brookwood Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35209.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Handley
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Goodson
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Real
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D015521:Ethmoid Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015523:Maxillary Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008793:Metrizamide; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D008793:Metrizamide