Adult spontaneous CSF otorrhea: correlation with radiographic empty sella.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of radiographic empty sella in patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea.


METHODS
Retrospective case series of adult patients with CSF otorhinorrhea at an academic tertiary medical center. Patients with history of skull base surgery, trauma, tumor, or chronic ear disease were excluded. Available imaging studies were reviewed with attention to the sella turcica.


RESULTS
Eight patients were diagnosed with spontaneous CSF otorrhea. Five of seven patients with adequate imaging studies (71%) had a radiographic empty sella. Seven of eight patients were clinically obese, with a body mass index BMI>30 kg/m2.


CONCLUSIONS
Empty sella is a common radiologic finding in patients with spontaneous CSF otorrhea. This supports the theory that increased intracranial pressure contributes to development of spontaneous CSF otorrhea.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiographic empty sella predicts elevated intracranial pressure, which may require further evaluation and treatment in patients with spontaneous CSF otorrhea.


METHODS
C-4.
Prichard
Christopher N
CN
Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Isaacson
Brandon
B
Oghalai
John S
JS
Coker
Newton J
NJ
Vrabec
Jeffrey T
JT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed