Introduction Although cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea has been recognized for centuries, spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea was first described by St. Clair Thomson as a distinct subgroup in 1899. Spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea is rare, representing only 3% to 4% of all cases.…
Introduction Over the past 3 decades, the management of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks from the anterior and middle cranial fossa has changed dramatically. One reason is the robust expansion of endonasal endoscopic surgery for approach and management of these issues,…
Introduction The endoscopic endonasal approach for reconstruction of spontaneous anterior skull base defects provides a minimally invasive and equally effective outcome compared with open approaches. , Using endoscopic magnification, small defects or leaks can be identified and appropriately repaired while…
Introduction Congenital skull base defects and resultant meningoencephaloceles can occur anywhere along the bony skull base. Defects of the anterior cranial fossa can result in herniation of intracranial contents, with or without a cerebrospinal leak (CSF), into the nasal cavity…
Disclosures Jessica W. Grayson has served on an advisory board for Glaxo-Smith-Kline. Bradford A. Woodworth serves as a consultant for Cook Medical, Smith and Nephew, and Medtronic Introduction Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), previously known as pseudotumor cerebri and benign intracranial…
Introduction The term idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) was first introduced by Corbett and Thompson in the late 1980s, nearly 100 years after the disease was first identified. By definition, IIH refers to intracranial hypertension in the absence of all secondary…
Introduction Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disorder characterized by symptoms secondary to increased intracranial pressure (ICP) with no clear identifiable cause. It is therefore a diagnosis of exclusion and necessitates the exclusion of differential diagnoses of increased ICP (i.e.,…
Introduction Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition defined by increased intracranial pressure without an identifiable cause and its associated symptoms, most notably headache and vision loss. With an estimated incidence of 0.9 per 100,000 in the general population, IIH…
Introduction The relationship between spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and intracranial hypertension has been recognized for nearly two centuries, following the description of a child with hydrocephalus and CSF rhinorrhea in 1826. However, it was not until 1968 when Ommaya…
Introduction The surgeon’s role in repair of a defect causing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea does not end with removal of the drapes. Without appropriate postoperative medical and surgical care, the most well-laid surgical repair may ultimately fail with recurrence of…