title: Imaging of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea and Otorrhea.
abstract: As the obesity epidemic grows in the United States, rhinorrhea and otorrhea from spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks secondary to untreated idiopathic intracranial hypertension are increasing in prevalence. CSF rhinorrhea and otorrhea should also be carefully evaluated in posttraumatic and postsurgical settings, because untreated CSF leaks often have serious consequences. The work-up, diagnosis, and characterization of a CSF leak can be complex, often requiring a multimodality approach to optimize surgical planning. This article reviews the causes of CSF leaks, describes the methodology used to work up a suspected leak, and discusses the challenges of making an accurate diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University Hospital, 1364 Clifton Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Mahati
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University Hospital, 1364 Clifton Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Electronic address: kmlloyd@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baugnon
mesh_terms: D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: CSF leak; Cisternogram; Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH); Skull base fractures