Radiographic diagnosis of trans-stapedial cerebrospinal fluid fistula.
OBJECTIVE
To report the high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of a bulging oval window in children with recurrent meningitis and congenital cerebrospinal fluid fistula.


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
Academic medical center children's hospital.


METHODS
A series of eight ears in four children with profound, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and perilymphatic hydrops were evaluated. Two patients presented with recurrent meningitis. All children were assessed with high-resolution computed tomography, and two children also underwent MRI.


RESULTS
Seven of eight ears had a common cavity malformation. The vestibular compartment showed severe dysplasia (n = 5), moderate dysplasia (n = 1), or a single semicircular canal (n = 2). The lamina cribrosa was clearly absent in four of eight ears. Its presence was difficult to assess in ears with small internal auditory canals. A bulging oval window, present in six of eight ears, was defined as a fluid density on high-resolution computed tomography or a hyperintense mass demonstrated by T2-weighted MRI protruding from the vestibule into the middle ear cavity. When present, this herniation of a fluid-filled sac could be seen on both MRI and computed tomography. This imaging finding was surgically confirmed in two patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The bulging oval window, which represents a fluid-filled sac, can be identified by both high-resolution computed tomography and MRI. Communication between the middle ear and the subarachnoid space through the inner ear is an important etiology for recurrent meningitis in children with sensorineural hearing loss.
Ehmer
Dale R
DR
Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9035, USA.
Booth
Timothy
T
Kutz
J Walter
JW
Roland
Peter S
PS
D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010046:Oval Window, Ear / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000002:abnormalities; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed