Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea

Last updated
Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea
Specialty Neurology, neurosurgery, otorhinolaryngology,Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Symptoms clear, colourless liquid draining from nose
Complications infection
Causes basilar skull fracture
Diagnostic method brain scans, testing nasal discharge to see if it is CSF
Differential diagnosis other types of rhinorrhoea
Treatment conservative management: observation neurosurgery: repairing any skull fracture

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea (CSF rhinorrhoea) refers to the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid through the nose (rhinorrhoea). It is typically caused by a basilar skull fracture, which presents complications such as infection. It may be diagnosed using brain scans (prompted based on initial symptoms), and by testing to see if discharge from the nose is cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment may be conservative (as many cases resolve spontaneously), but usually involves neurosurgery.

Contents

Classification

CSF rhinorrhoea may be spontaneous, traumatic, or congenital. [1]

Traumatic CSF rhinorrhoea is the most common type of CSF rhinorrhoea. [1] It may be due to severe head injury, or from complications from neurosurgery. [1]

Spontaneous CSF rhinorrhoea is the most common acquired defect in the skull base bones (anterior cranial fossa) causing spontaneous nasal liquorrhea. Defects are often localized in the sphenoid bone and the ethmoid bone. [1]

Congenital CSF rhinorrhoea is the least common type of CSF rhinorrhoea. [1] It may be caused by problems in the embryological development of bones of the skull. [1]

Signs and symptoms

CSF rhinorrhoea involves drainage of cerebrospinal fluid through the nose. [1] This appears as a clear, colourless liquid. [1]

Causes

Traumatic

CSF rhinorrhoea may be a sign of a basilar skull fracture. Other signs of a basilar skull fracture include CSF otorrhoea (drainage of CSF through the ear). [2] It can have devastating complications in some patients, as the communication between the nasal cavity, the cerebrospinal fluid and the central nervous system can result in severe bacterial infections. [3]

CSF rhinorrhoea may be a complication of neurosurgery, such as functional endoscopic sinus surgery, and hypophysectomy (partial or complete removal of the pituitary gland). [1]

Non-traumatic

CSF rhinorrhoea may be caused by the growth of certain cancers (such as pituitary adenoma),[ citation needed ] congenital problems with bones of the skull, or inflammation that damages the bones of the skull. [1]

Diagnosis

Radiology

If a patient has clear, colourless liquid leaking from the nose, then radiographs or CT scans may be used to look for a basilar skull fracture.

Biochemistry

Measures of CSF components, such as glucose, have been used in the past, but are neither sensitive nor specific. Beta-2 transferrin has a high positive predictive value of CSF rhinorrhoea. [4] It has also been noted to be characterized by unilateral discharge. [3]

Treatment

Surgery

Neurosurgery is usually necessary to prevent the spread of infection to the meninges. [1] [3] Minimally invasive techniques tend to have fewer complications compared to open techniques. [1]

Conservative management

Conservative management includes watchful waiting, as some minor CSF leaks often stop spontaneously.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brain abscess</span> Medical condition

Brain abscess is an abscess within the brain tissue caused by inflammation and collection of infected material coming from local or remote infectious sources. The infection may also be introduced through a skull fracture following a head trauma or surgical procedures. Brain abscess is usually associated with congenital heart disease in young children. It may occur at any age but is most frequent in the third decade of life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerebrospinal fluid</span> Clear, colorless bodily fluid found in the brain and spinal cord

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colorless body fluid found within the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord of all vertebrates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paranasal sinuses</span> Air-filled spaces surrounding the nasal cavity

Paranasal sinuses are a group of four paired air-filled spaces that surround the nasal cavity. The maxillary sinuses are located under the eyes; the frontal sinuses are above the eyes; the ethmoidal sinuses are between the eyes and the sphenoidal sinuses are behind the eyes. The sinuses are named for the facial bones and sphenoid bone in which they are located. Their role is disputed and no function has been confirmed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrocephalus</span> Abnormal increase in cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain

Hydrocephalus is a condition in which an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) occurs within the brain. This typically causes increased pressure inside the skull. Older people may have headaches, double vision, poor balance, urinary incontinence, personality changes, or mental impairment. In babies, it may be seen as a rapid increase in head size. Other symptoms may include vomiting, sleepiness, seizures, and downward pointing of the eyes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethmoid bone</span> Bone in the skull

The ethmoid bone is an unpaired bone in the skull that separates the nasal cavity from the brain. It is located at the roof of the nose, between the two orbits. The cubical bone is lightweight due to a spongy construction. The ethmoid bone is one of the bones that make up the orbit of the eye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sphenoid bone</span> Bone at the front of the skull

The sphenoid bone is an unpaired bone of the neurocranium. It is situated in the middle of the skull towards the front, in front of the basilar part of the occipital bone. The sphenoid bone is one of the seven bones that articulate to form the orbit. Its shape somewhat resembles that of a butterfly or bat with its wings extended.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cribriform plate</span> Part of the ethmoid bone in the skull

In mammalian anatomy, the cribriform plate, horizontal lamina or lamina cribrosa is part of the ethmoid bone. It is received into the ethmoidal notch of the frontal bone and roofs in the nasal cavities. It supports the olfactory bulb, and is perforated by olfactory foramina for the passage of the olfactory nerves to the roof of the nasal cavity to convey smell to the brain. The foramina at the medial part of the groove allow the passage of the nerves to the upper part of the nasal septum while the foramina at the lateral part transmit the nerves to the superior nasal concha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhinorrhea</span> Filling of the nasal cavity with fluid mucus

Rhinorrhea, rhinorrhoea, or informally runny nose is the free discharge of a thin mucus fluid from the nose; it is a common condition. It is a common symptom of allergies or certain viral infections, such as the common cold or COVID-19. It can be a side effect of crying, exposure to cold temperatures, cocaine abuse, or drug withdrawal, such as from methadone or other opioids. Treatment for rhinorrhea may be aimed at reducing symptoms or treating underlying causes. Rhinorrhea usually resolves without intervention, but may require treatment by a doctor if symptoms last more than 10 days or if symptoms are the result of foreign bodies in the nose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skull fracture</span> Medical condition

A skull fracture is a break in one or more of the eight bones that form the cranial portion of the skull, usually occurring as a result of blunt force trauma. If the force of the impact is excessive, the bone may fracture at or near the site of the impact and cause damage to the underlying structures within the skull such as the membranes, blood vessels, and brain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilar skull fracture</span> Medical condition

A basilar skull fracture is a break of a bone in the base of the skull. Symptoms may include bruising behind the ears, bruising around the eyes, or blood behind the ear drum. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak occurs in about 20% of cases and may result in fluid leaking from the nose or ear. Meningitis occurs in about 14% of cases. Other complications include injuries to the cranial nerves or blood vessels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cranial cavity</span> Space inside the skull formed by eight cranial bones known as the neurocranium

The cranial cavity, also known as intracranial space, is the space within the skull that accommodates the brain. The skull minus the mandible is called the cranium. The cavity is formed by eight cranial bones known as the neurocranium that in humans includes the skull cap and forms the protective case around the brain. The remainder of the skull is called the facial skeleton. Meninges are protective membranes that surround the brain to minimize damage to the brain in the case of head trauma. Meningitis is the inflammation of meninges caused by bacterial or viral infections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frontal sinus</span> Airspace below ridge of eyebrow in humam anatomy

The frontal sinuses are one of the four pairs of paranasal sinuses that are situated behind the brow ridges. Sinuses are mucosa-lined airspaces within the bones of the face and skull. Each opens into the anterior part of the corresponding middle nasal meatus of the nose through the frontonasal duct which traverses the anterior part of the labyrinth of the ethmoid. These structures then open into the semilunar hiatus in the middle meatus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Functional endoscopic sinus surgery</span> Surgery to enlarge the paranasal sinus drainage pathways

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a procedure that is used to treat sinusitis and other conditions that affect the sinuses. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses that can cause symptoms such as congestion, headaches, and difficulty breathing through the nose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clivus (anatomy)</span> Bony part of the skull base

The clivus or Blumenbach clivus is a bony part of the cranium at the base of the skull. It is a shallow depression behind the dorsum sellae of the sphenoid bone. It slopes gradually to the anterior part of the basilar occipital bone at its junction with the sphenoid bone. It extends to the foramen magnum. It is related to the pons and the abducens nerve.

A sinus is a sac or cavity in any organ or tissue, or an abnormal cavity or passage caused by the destruction of tissue. In common usage, "sinus" usually refers to the paranasal sinuses, which are air cavities in the cranial bones, especially those near the nose and connecting to it. Most individuals have four paired cavities located in the cranial bone or skull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Le Fort fracture of skull</span> Type of head injury

The Le Fortfractures are a pattern of midface fractures originally described by the French surgeon, René Le Fort, in the early 1900s. He described three distinct fracture patterns. Although not always applicable to modern-day facial fractures, the Le Fort type fracture classification is still utilized today by medical providers to aid in describing facial trauma for communication, documentation, and surgical planning. Several surgical techniques have been established for facial reconstruction following Le Fort fractures, including maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The main goal of any surgical intervention is to re-establish occlusion, or the alignment of upper and lower teeth, to ensure the patient is able to eat. Complications following Le Fort fractures rely on the anatomical structures affected by the inciding injury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">External ventricular drain</span> Medical device

An external ventricular drain (EVD), also known as a ventriculostomy or extraventricular drain, is a device used in neurosurgery to treat hydrocephalus and relieve elevated intracranial pressure when the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inside the brain is obstructed. An EVD is a flexible plastic catheter placed by a neurosurgeon or neurointensivist and managed by intensive care unit (ICU) physicians and nurses. The purpose of external ventricular drainage is to divert fluid from the ventricles of the brain and allow for monitoring of intracranial pressure. An EVD must be placed in a center with full neurosurgical capabilities, because immediate neurosurgical intervention can be needed if a complication of EVD placement, such as bleeding, is encountered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemotympanum</span> Presence of blood in the tympanic cavity of the middle ear

Hemotympanum, or hematotympanum, refers to the presence of blood in the tympanic cavity of the middle ear. Hemotympanum is often the result of basilar skull fracture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerebrospinal fluid leak</span> Medical condition

A cerebrospinal fluid leak is a medical condition where the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that surrounds the brain and spinal cord leaks out of one or more holes or tears in the dura mater. A CSF leak is classed as either nonspontaneous (primary), having a known cause, or spontaneous (secondary) where the cause is not readily evident. Causes of a primary CSF leak are those of trauma including from an accident or intentional injury, or arising from a medical intervention known as iatrogenic. A basilar skull fracture as a cause can give the sign of CSF leakage from the ear nose or mouth. A lumbar puncture can give the symptom of a post-dural-puncture headache.

Endoscopic endonasal surgery is a minimally invasive technique used mainly in neurosurgery and otolaryngology. A neurosurgeon or an otolaryngologist, using an endoscope that is entered through the nose, fixes or removes brain defects or tumors in the anterior skull base. Normally an otolaryngologist performs the initial stage of surgery through the nasal cavity and sphenoid bone; a neurosurgeon performs the rest of the surgery involving drilling into any cavities containing a neural organ such as the pituitary gland. The use of endoscope was first introduced in Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery by R Jankowsky, J Auque, C Simon et al. in 1992 G.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Banks, Caroline A.; Palmer, James N.; Chiu, Alexander G.; O'Malley, Bert W.; Woodworth, Bradford A.; Kennedy, David W. (2009-06-01). "Endoscopic closure of CSF rhinorrhea: 193 cases over 21 years". Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 140 (6): 826–833. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2008.12.060. ISSN   0194-5998.
  2. "CSF Otorrhea: Practice Essentials, Epidemiology, Etiology". 28 November 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 CSF Rhinorrhea at eMedicine
  4. Kerr, Julie T.; Chu, Felix W.K.; Bayles, Stephen W. (2005). "Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea: Diagnosis and Management". Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 38 (4): 597–611. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2005.03.011. PMID   16005720.