Imaging of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea and Otorrhea.

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. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Mahati Reddy, Kristen Baugnon. Imaging of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea and Otorrhea. Radiologic clinics of North America. 2017 Jan;55(1):167-187

Mesh Tags

PMID: 27890184

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