title: Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhoea via oval window: an obscure cause of recurrent meningitis.
abstract: Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak via the oval window is uncommon and can result in recurrent bacterial meningitis. Current understanding of spontaneous CSF otorrhoea is reviewed and a diagnostic algorithm is presented. A seven-year-old boy presented with bilateral congenital deafness and recurrent meningitis. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the temporal bone showed a labyrinthine deformity and communication between the internal auditory canal (IAC) and the cochlea. Subtotal petrosectomy with closure of the external acoustic meatus and eustachian tube was performed. Post-operatively, the child had no further episodes of meningitis. This rare and obscure cause of recurrent childhood meningitis requires a high index of suspicion and the use of diagnostic tools, especially HRCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: D T W
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D003638:Deafness / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging