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Case Reports
. 2025 May 18;17(5):e84332.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.84332. eCollection 2025 May.

Sphenoidal Meningoencephalocele Secondary to a Persistent Sternberg Canal: A Case Report

Anouar Ben Ameur El Youbi  1 , Mariam Ameziane Hassani  1 , Abdellatif Oudidi  1 , Mohamed Nouredine El Amine El Alami  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Sphenoidal Meningoencephalocele Secondary to a Persistent Sternberg Canal: A Case Report

Anouar Ben Ameur El Youbi et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

The Sternberg canal represents a congenital defect of the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus, predisposing to spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and the formation of meningoencephaloceles. We report the case of a 54-year-old patient presenting with a four-month history of anterior rhinorrhea in the absence of any other associated symptoms. High-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging identified an osteomeningeal defect in the lateral sphenoid sinus wall, associated with a meningoencephalocele. The patient underwent a right transsphenoidal sphenoidotomy with multilayer reconstruction utilizing abdominal fat, conchal cartilage, and biological adhesive. Favorable clinical outcomes were achieved, with no recurrence noted during a nine-month follow-up period. Surgical repair of CSF leaks through the Sternberg canal remains technically demanding, primarily due to the anatomical complexity and restricted accessibility of the lateral sphenoid recess.

Keywords: cerebrospinal fluid; lateral craniopharyngeal canal; meningoencephalocele; rhinorrhea; sternberg canal.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Axial CT scan showing a bony defect in the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus with herniation of cerebro-meningeal tissue (arrow)
CT: computed tomography
Figure 2
Figure 2. Coronal MRI demonstrating an osteomeningeal defect in the posterolateral wall of the sphenoid sinus associated with a meningoencephalocele (arrow)
MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
Figure 3
Figure 3. Endoscopic image showing a meningoencephalocele (arrow) protruding from the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus (star)
Figure 4
Figure 4. Endoscopic image showing the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus after cauterization of the meningeal tissue (arrow)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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