title: Spontaneous Rhinorrhea mimicking sinusitis.
abstract: Spotaneous or non-traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea is an uncommon condition and may present a diagnostic challenge to clinicians. This condition is often being misdiagnosed for allergic rhintis or chronic sinusitis since the precipitating cause is not readily apperent in most patients. The mechanism of rhinorrhea is stil not completely clarified. We describe a case of this condition occuring in association with allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. A 52 year-old, obese female patient presented with two weeks history of bilateral clear nasal discharge and postural headache. Sample of nasal discharge tested for glucose and protein. The result was that the collection fluid was cerebrospinal fluid. The origin of cerebrospinal fluid fistula could not be identified despite the diagnostic tests.
authors.affiliation: Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozdogan
authors.affiliation: Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yusuf Emrah
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Gergin
authors.affiliation: Marmara University, Department of Anatomy, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sinem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gergin
authors.affiliation: Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Necati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tatarli
authors.affiliation: Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tufan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hicdonmez
mesh_terms: D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Rhinorrhea; sinusitis; spontaneous rhinorrhea