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Case Reports
. 2010 Nov;20(6):455-8.
doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1261268.

Double skull base defects with primary spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks in a single patient: temporal and sphenoid bones

Benjamin Schmitt, Jean-Michel Badet, Jean-Claude Chobaut, Laurent Tavernier
Case Reports

Double skull base defects with primary spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks in a single patient: temporal and sphenoid bones

Benjamin Schmitt et al. Skull Base. 2010 Nov.

Abstract

Primary spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks occurring in the absence of any apparent cause are rare. Patients may present such leaks simultaneously, or successively, in multiple locations. We report here the sixth case of anterior and lateral skull base defects presented in a single patient. Although rhinoliquorrhea and otoliquorrhea were reported separately in the literature, we postulated that the pathophysiology is the same for the whole skull base; obesity seems to contribute to the development of such primary spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak. Consequently, management is similar and regular follow-up is very important.

Keywords: CSF leak; Skull base defect; primary; spontaneous.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sagittal CT scan localizes a defect of lateral right sphenoid sinus with effusion.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sagittal, unenhanced T1-weighted MRI of empty sella.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Coronal CT scan demonstrates a bony defect of right tegmen tympani and middle ear CSF effusion.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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