Persistent Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea by Intrasphenoidal Encephalocele

Abstract

The case of a 60-year-old man with a 6-month history of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is presented. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed an intrasphenoidal mass extending through a bony defect of the roof of the left sphenoid sinus. Transnasal surgical repair was performed; intraoperatively the mass was identified as an intrasphenoidal encephalocele. The pathogenesis of this anomaly is analyzed, the clinical findings and the operative treatment are described, and the literature is reviewed.

Zusammenfassung

Der Fall eines 60-jährigen Mannes mit seit sechs Monaten bestehender Rhinoliquorrhoe wird vorgestellt. Die bildgebende Diagnostik im Sinne einer kraniellen Computertomographie (cCT) und Kernspintomographie (cMRT) zeigte eine Raumforderung im linken Sinus sphenoidalis, durch einen ossären Defekt am Dach der linken Keilbeinhöhle eintretend. Die operative Therapie erfolgte über einen transnasalen Zugang; intra-operativ konnte die Diagnose einer intrasphenoidalen Encephalocele bestätigt werden. Die Pathogenese dieser Anomalie wird diskutiert, die klinische Symptomatik und operative Therapieoptionen dargelegt sowie ein Literaturüberblick repräsentiert.

Key words

intrasphenoidal encephalocele - transsphenoidal encephalocele - CSF rhinorrhea

Schlüsselwörter

intrasphenoidale Encephalocele - transsphenoidale Encephalocele - Rhinoliquorrhoe

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