CSF rhinorrhoea: the place of endoscopic sinus surgery

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea has been managed by both neurosurgeons and otorhinolaryngologists, with neurosurgeons often choosing an intracranial approach and otorhinolaryngologists an extracranial approach. Recently, transnasal endoscopic techniques have been introduced that significantly reduce the morbidity of surgical repair when compared with previous techniques. The sense of smell was preserved in all patients who underwent an endoscopic repair of their CSF leak where it was present preoperatively. The results of transnasal endoscopic repair now make it the treatment of choice for most anterior cranial and sphenoid CSF leaks, with the exception of defects in posterior wall of the frontal sinus or defects larger than 5 cm. It is vital that a diagnosis of a CSF leak is confirmed by immunofixation of beta 2 transferrin as unilateral rhinorrhoea can masquerade as a CSF leak. We illustrate our experience with 78 patients who were referred with a diagnosis of CSF rhinorrhoea.