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. 2023 Apr;75(Suppl 1):764-767.
doi: 10.1007/s12070-022-03347-z. Epub 2022 Dec 11.

A Rare Case of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea from Canal of Stenberg

Chien Ying Vincent Ngu  1   2 , Teng Hui Lee  1 , Komathi Ramachandran  1 , Donald Ngian San Liew  3 , Ing Ping Tang  1   4
Affiliations

A Rare Case of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea from Canal of Stenberg

Chien Ying Vincent Ngu et al. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023 Apr.

Abstract

Background: A spontaneous cerebrospinal leak from Sternberg's canal with meningoencephalocele is a very rare clinical entity. Endoscopic repair of the defect is challenging and crucial in identifying the defect. The aim of this case report is to highlight the presence and management with endoscopic surgery in repairing Sternberg canal. Case: 40-year-old woman presents with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea with no predisposing factors. CT imaging and MRI showed osteodural defect in the lateral recess of sphenoid with meningoencephalocoele lateral to the foramen rotundum. Endoscopic transethmoidal - transphenoidal - transpterygoid approach was used to repair the defect, and patient is well post-operative with least complication from the intervention surgery. Conclusion: Endoscopic approach proved to be the best and safest method in localizing the defect and closure of the leak. Angled scopes and image guided system were used to identify the precise location of the leak.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-022-03347-z.

Keywords: Cerebrospinal Fluid; Lateral Craniopharyngeal Canal; Lateral Sphenoid Recess; Rhinorrhoea; Sternberg’s Canal.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing InterestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Coronal section of CT scan which shows a bony defect on the right cribriform plate. (pre rotundum pneumatisation)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Endoscopic operative view of the defect (MC-meningocoele)with pooling of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Three months outcome post endoscopic repair reveals a well epithelised flap with no evidence of CSF leakage
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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