The diagnosis of CSF fistulas with rhinorrhea by isotope cisternography

Severe craniofacial fractures with frontobasal involvement and cerebrospinal fluid fistula: indications for surgical repair

BACKGROUND

The management of posttraumatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulae is a controversial topic. Although recent literature shows that endoscopic repair of CSF fistula is efficacious and minimally invasive, in specific conditions open operative approach remains imperative.

METHODS

A series of 36 patients underwent surgery for posttraumatic CSF fistula according to specific selection criteria. These criteria included: bone displacement more than 1 cm (5 cases), location of fracture in proximity to the midline (6 cases), involvement of cribriform plate (12 cases), presence of encephalocele (3 cases), and failure of the conservative treatment (10 cases). The dural defect was closed using vascularized pericranium and fibrin glue. Closure of the basal bone defect was necessary in very large fractures or in special localization of the fistula, such as near the optic nerve. Mean clinical follow-up was 5.7 years.

RESULTS

Two patients presented meningitis without sequelae, and 12 with hyposmia. One patient died of the severity of the primary brain injury and associated extracranial lesions. None of the patients had recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that surgical dural repair in selected cases is related to low morbidity and mortality preserving from delayed risks such as recurrence and infections.

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid fistulae associated with empty sellae: surgical treatment and long-term results

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the accuracy of different diagnostic tools for cerebrospinal fluid fistulae (CFFs) associated with empty sellae and to assess the long-term results after surgical treatment.

METHODS

Records were retrospectively reviewed for 38 of 44 patients who were treated for CFFs associated with empty sellae between 1972 and 1996. Glucose and radioisotope analyses of nasal fluids were used to establish the CFF diagnosis. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cisternography were used to localize the sites of the CFFs. Treatment was performed using three different approaches, i.e., subfrontal approach, transsphenoidal approach, and lumboperitoneal shunt placement.

RESULTS

Glucose and radioisotope analyses of nasal fluids confirmed CFFs in 97 and 100% of the cases, respectively. For localization of the sites, a leak in the sella was suggested in 32% of the cases using gammagraphy, in 50% using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and in 75% using computed tomographic contrast cisternography. After surgery, rhinorrhea ceased for 34 patients (89%), but 14 (41%) patients experienced recurrences of the rhinorrhea 6 months to 20 years after surgery (mean, 4.2 yr). Cure rates for the subfrontal approach, transsphenoidal approach, and shunt placement were 94, 85, and 86%, and the recurrence rates were 43, 33, and 50%, with mean times of 7.8, 4.2, and 0.8 years, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In this series, confirmation of CFFs was easy, although localization of the sites remained difficult. Recurrences were more numerous and occurred sooner after treatment with shunts; packing of the sella through a craniotomy achieved better and more stable results, although differences were not statistically significant.

Radiological study of primary spontaneous CSF rhinorrhoea

A radiological study of skull base anatomy was performed in patients presenting with primary spontaneous CSF rhinorrhoea. Radiology correctly identified the fistula site in 90 per cent of cases. Contrast CT imaging was found to be the most suitable technique for identifying the presence and site of CSF fistulae. However, pre-contrast bony dehiscences were identified in all patients leaking from the cribriform plate region. More significantly, all of these patients showed deviation of their crista galli, a radiological sign hitherto unreported. These findings support the theory that congenital bony dehiscence is the aetiological basis for this condition. The importance of radiology in the management of this condition is emphasized.

Evaluation of CSF rhinorrhea by computerized tomography with metrizamide

This study evaluates the ability of metrizamide computerized tomographic cisternography (MCTC) to delineate the site of leakage in patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea. From 1981 to 1986, thirteen patients were examined by MCTC to localize the site of CSF leakage. A total of 17 studies were performed. Thirteen scans (76%) identified the site of CSF leakage. Nine of these scans were confirmed surgically. The other four scans were performed on patients who refused surgery. Of the 15 scans in patients with active CSF leaks, 13 (87%) were positive. Of the two patients with inactive CSF leaks, neither was positive. One patient is presented in whom MCTC was both diagnostic and therapeutic. In conclusion, MCTC has a high success rate in localizing the site of active CSF leaks.

Brain scintigraphy in the diagnosis of the sequelae of head trauma

Computed transaxial tomography (CTT) has become the major imaging tool in the evaluation of any intracerebral lesion, including those due to traumatic injury. Expense and availability sometimes dictate that radionuclide brain scintigraphy (RBS) be performed in place of CTT. Certain situations exist where RBS may be used as a primary tool. These include circumstances where assessment of brain perfusion may be essential, e.g., determination of brain death. Radionuclide cisternography still remains useful in evaluating patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus and cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

The empty sella

The data from 55 patients with empty sellae seen during the past five years are examined. The clinical and radiological features most helpful in defining and classifying each case are identified. The most frequent and most serious complications and the warning signs useful in diagnosis are discussed. The indications for and the results of surgical treatment are reviewed.

CSF rhinorrhea from a transclival meningocele demonstrated with metrizamide CT cisternography. Case report

A 63-year-old woman with a 10-year history of intermittent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea was found to have a transclival meningocele. After pluridirectional tomography demonstrated a bone defect in the clivus, the diagnosis was established by means of computerized tomography (CT) by comparing the absorption coefficients of a soft-tissue mass within the sphenoid sinus before and after the injection of metrizamide into the lumbar subarachnoid space. An increase of 39 absorption units clearly indicated the movement of CSF from the prepontine subarachnoid space into the sphenoid sinus. This case illustrates the value of metrizamide CT cisternography in the evaluation of patients with CSF rhinorrhea.

Precise anatomic localization of atraumatic sphenoethmoidal cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea by metrizamide CT cisternography

Metrizamide computerized tomographic cisternography (MCTC) has proved 100% successful in documenting the precise anatomic location of the dural osseous defect in three patients with sphenoethmoidal rhinorrhea. In each patient, direct surgical approach to the site indicated by MCTC terminated the leakage in a single procedure. Clinical evaluation has disclosed no renewed leakage during a follow-up period from 6 to 18 months.