title: Simultaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea and rhinorrhea as a cause of recurrent meningitis in a patient with cochlear dysplasia.
abstract: Inner ear dysplasia is a rare cause of cerebrospinal fluid otorhinorrhea and presents in a variety of ways, ranging from asymptomatic to recurrent bacterial meningitis. We describe a 6-year-old boy who presented with clear watery nasal discharge and recurrent bacterial meningitis. Magnetic resonance cisternogram showed cerebrospinal fluid leak through the cribriform plate of ethmoid. High-resolution computed tomographic scan of temporal bones confirmed the diagnosis of cochlear dysplasia, with cerebrospinal fluid leak coming through a defect near the oval window and through the eustachian tube orifice into the nose. Surgical closure of the defects was performed successfully.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recurrent meningitis in a child should be investigated for inner ear malformations. Awareness of this condition, a high index of suspicion and early imaging can prevent complications and give excellent results in these children.
authors.affiliation: B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. shawndr@gmail.com
authors.forename: Shawn T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Neena H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Bhalodiya
authors.forename: Ratnadeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghosh
mesh_terms: D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D003051:Cochlea / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology*