Spontaneous Cerebro-Spinal Fluid Rhinorrhoea Caused by Sustained Intracranial Hypertension

Moataz Younis1, Mohammed Adly1, Mohamed Yousry1

  • 1Emergency Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, QAT.

Cureus
|May 31, 2022
PubMed

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) leakage results from a defect in the skull base, which communicates the subarachnoid space with the nasal cavity. The most common cause of CSF leakage is traumatic, and non-traumatic causes are less common. This case report illustrates a case of a woman who presented to the emergency department with clear fluid pouring from her nose for three weeks with a fever. The patient had pneumococcal meningitis and Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (ICH) seven years ago. Computed Tomography (CT) sinuses showed the defect seen on the right side of the cribriform plate, and the Magnetic Resonant Imaging (MRI) confirmed the CSF leakage. The CSF leakage was diagnosed by positive B transferrin.  This case highlights a rare condition that needs early detection and treatment to prevent complications such as ascending meningitis.

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