Spontaneous intracranial hypotension presenting to the ENT surgeon: case report

To highlight a case of spontaneous intracranial hypotension presenting to the ENT surgeon.

We present a case report and a review of the literature concerning spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is a rare diagnosis, particularly to the ENT surgeon. We report a patient with tinnitus, hearing loss and headache, symptoms suggestive of an ENT diagnosis such as Ménière's disease or vestibular schwannoma. However, magnetic resonance imaging revealed the characteristic findings of spontaneous intracranial hypotension. The patient's symptoms resolved, except for a mild residual tinnitus, with conservative management alone.

This case highlights the importance of considering spontaneous intracranial hypotension as a differential diagnosis of certain ENT symptoms.