[A rare case of recurrent meningitis: intranasal encephalocele]

Intranasal meningoencephalocele is a rare malformation characterized by a protrusion of brain tissue and meninges out of the cranial cavity into the nose, through a discontinuity of the ethmoidal cribriform plate. It is a congenital anomaly but it may be also due to trauma or to chronic intracranial hypertension. It is clinically apparent as a small mass that may be confused with nasal polyp. A cerebrospinal fluid leakage may be present. In a few cases it gives no symptoms until adulthood, but usually recurrent meningitis may occur. A case of young woman with intranasal encephalomeningocele who suffered from 18 episodes of meningitis is reported. Nevertheless she is at present without neurological consequences.