title: Recurrent meningitis secondary to a petrous apex meningocele.
abstract: This case report describes a patient who was found to have a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak originating from the petrous apex. The patient initially presented with multiple bouts of meningitis. The patient was treated surgically via a middle cranial fossa approach but presented five years later with recurrent meningitis and was found to have an osseous defect of the petrous apex which was not recognized prior to the initial surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, UT, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.
authors.forename: Yann-Fuu
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Kou
authors.affiliation: Tampa Bay Hearing and Balance Center, Tampa, FL.
authors.forename: Kyle P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, UT, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX. Electronic address: brandon.isaacson@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Isaacson
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008588:Meningocele / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010579:Petrous Bone; D012008:Recurrence