Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea: Diagnostic Challenges
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is a type of CSF
leakage that occurs when CSF egresses from an abnormal
communication formed by the arachnoid and dura mater,
as well as defective skull sections leading into the nasal
cavity and sinuses, due to a dural and osseous defect
at the anterior skull base.1
CSF rhinorrhea can be classified as traumatic or nontraumatic,
with craniofacial trauma being the most
common cause2. A thorough review revealed the most
prevalent locations of injury as the ethmoid/cribriform
plate (46%), frontal sinus (44%), orbital roof (15%), and
sphenoid sinus (11%) 3. Due to underlying idiopathic
intracranial hypertension (IIH), the frequency of
spontaneous CSF leaks is increasing, especially among
females in areas with high obesity rates 4.