CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID RHINORRHEA AND RECURRENT MENINGITIS

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea is the result of transdural communicati on between the subarachnoid space and the skull base. A transdural fis tula may originate from the anterior, middle, or posterior cranial com partments. All skull-base sites of leakage potentially lead to the nas al cavity. Recurrent meningitis is commonly associated with such a dir ect source of bacterial contamination. Organisms associated with recur rent meningitis secondary to cerebrospinal fluid leaks are commonly fo und in the upper respiratory tract. We report a case of recurrent meni ngitis in a 5-year-old girl that highlights the problem of cerebrospin al fluid rhinorrhea, and we discuss etiology, current diagnostic techn iques, and surgical management.