CONGENITAL ENCEPHALOCELE OF THE MEDIAL SKULL BASE

Meningoencephaloceles of the temporal bone are rare. Although most oft en seen following otologic surgery or trauma, congenital meningoenceph aloceles can exist. The clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and surgical management of three patients with congenital meningoencep halocele are presented. Two of the three patients presented to our ins titution with recurrent episodes of meningitis; one presented with par tial complex seizures. Diagnostic evaluation included temporal bone co mputed tomography with magnetic resonance imaging. In two patients, de fects were imaged following high-pressure subarachnoid cisternography with computed tomography. All three patients were found to have congen ital defects in the area of Meckel's cave. Early recognition of congen ital meningoencephalocele is important to avoid delay of definitive su rgical management and neurologic sequelae.