Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea as a complication of malignant lymphoma

A 53-year-old woman with a three-year history of recurrent stage IV diffuse aggressive lymphoma involving the nasopharynx presented with fever, chills, and the sudden onset of drainage of clear, colorless fluid from the left nostril. This woman had no history of trauma or physical activity that might increase intracranial pressure. Subarachnoid instillation of 111indium resulted in the accumulation of radioactivity in a cotton stint placed in the left nares, documenting cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. Computed tomography of the head revealed bony erosion of the cribriform plate by lymphoma. Defervescence occurred in the patient 48 hours after treatment with antibiotics was begun, and systemic chemotherapy directed against the lymphoma resulted in resolution of the cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea within a month without surgical intervention.