title: Endoscopic repair of CSF rhinorrhea: experience of 44 cases.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is a leakage of fluid from the subarachnoid space to the frontal, sphenoidal or ethmoidal sinuses. CSF rhinorrhea is a known potential complication with significant morbidity and mortality. It may present a significant challenge in diagnosis, localization and management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Series study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1993 and 2004, 44 patients with cerebrospinal rhinorrhea were operated on using intranasal endoscopic approach in the University Hospital of the University of Sao Paulo, Medical School. The charts of all patients treated in our hospital were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four patients, 16 women (36%) and twenty-eight men (64%), were included in the study. Patients' ages ranged from 2 to 68 years (mean: 40.3 years). Etiology, site of leakage, diagnosis, technique, cause of failure and follow-up are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors concluded that transnasal endoscopic surgery for CSF rhinorrhea had high success rate, low morbidity and stable long-term results.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology, HCFMUSP.
authors.forename: Bernardo Cunha
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Araujo Filho
authors.forename: Ossamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Butugan
authors.forename: Francini Grecco de Melo
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Pádua
authors.forename: Richard Louis
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Voegels
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome