Spontaneous CSF otorrhea caused by abnormal development of the facial nerve canal.
(1/30)
In two patients with surgically proved CSF fistula through the facial nerve canal, MR and CT examinations showed smooth enlargement of the geniculate fossa with CSF signal. In the clinical setting of CSF otorrhea or rhinorrhea, the presence of an enlarged labyrinthine facial nerve canal and enlarged geniculate fossa on CT scans and CSF intensity on MR images strongly suggests a CSF fistula through the facial nerve canal. (+info)
Evaluation of CSF leaks: high-resolution CT compared with contrast-enhanced CT and radionuclide cisternography.
(2/30)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Radiologic evaluation of CSF leaks is a diagnostic challenge that often involves multiple imaging studies with the associated expense and patient discomfort. We evaluated the use of screening noncontrast high-resolution CT in identifying the presence and site of CSF rhinorrhea and otorrhea and compared it with contrast-enhanced CT cisternography and radionuclide cisternography. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the imaging studies and medical records of all patients who were evaluated for CSF leak during a 7-year period. Forty-two patients with rhinorrhea and/or otorrhea underwent high-resolution CT of the face or temporal bone and then had CT cisternography and radionuclide cisternography via lumbar puncture. The results of the three studies were compared and correlated with the surgical findings in 21 patients. RESULTS: High-resolution CT showed bone defects in 30 of 42 patients (71%) with CSF leak. High-resolution, radionuclide cisternography and CT cisternography did not show bone defects or CSF leak for 12 patients (29%) who had clinical evidence of CSF leak. Among the 30 patients with bone defects, 20 (66%) had positive results of their radionuclide cisternography and/or CT cisternography. For the 21 patients who underwent surgical exploration and repair, intraoperative findings correlated with the defects revealed by high-resolution CT in all cases. High-resolution CT identified significantly more patients with CSF leak than did radionuclide cisternography and CT cisternography, with a moderate degree of agreement. CONCLUSION: Noncontrast high-resolution CT showed a defect in 70% of the patients with CSF leak. No radionuclide cisternography or CT cisternography study produced positive results without previous visualization of a defect on high-resolution CT. CT cisternography and radionuclide cisternography may be reserved for patients in whom initial high-resolution CT does not identify a bone defect or for patients with multiple fractures or postoperative defects. (+info)
Prevention of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and delayed loss of preserved hearing after vestibular schwannoma removal: reconstruction of the internal auditory canal in the suboccipital transmeatal approach--technical note.
(3/30)
The suboccipital transmeatal approach uses packing of a muscle or fat graft into the internal auditory canal (IAC) to prevent postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. However, preserved hearing after removal of vestibular schwannomas may decline over time because of the progressive constriction of cochlear vascular supply due to scarring of the IAC. We propose a surgical technique for IAC reconstruction, which separates the preserved cochlear nerve and vasculature from the graft, and regains the CSF space in the IAC. Prior to the drilling of the posterior wall of the IAC, the dura mater of the petrous bone forming the posterior wall of the IAC is harvested for IAC reconstruction. After completion of tumor removal, a "roof" of the IAC is reconstructed using the dura mater, and a muscle or fat graft soaked with fibrin glue is placed on the "roof" of the IAC. The IAC was reconstructed using this technique in 26 consecutive patients with vestibular schwannomas who underwent tumor removal via the suboccipital transmeatal approach. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the regained CSF space in the IAC. No delayed hearing loss occurred in four patients with preserved hearing. No CSF leakage occurred after surgery. This new technique of IAC reconstruction may prevent delayed hearing loss as well as postoperative CSF leakage after removal of vestibular schwannomas via the suboccipital transmeatal approach. (+info)
Characterization of chemical meningitis after neurological surgery.
(4/30)
We reviewed the records of 70 consecutive adult patients with meningitis after a neurosurgical procedure, to determine the characteristics that might help to distinguish a sterile postoperative chemical meningitis from bacterial infection. The spinal fluid profiles in bacterial and chemical meningitis are similar. The exceptions are that a spinal fluid white blood cell count > 7500/microL (7500 x 10(6)/L) and a glucose level of < 10 mg/dL were not found in any case of chemical meningitis. The clinical setting and clinical manifestations were distinct enough that no antibiotic was administered after lumbar puncture to 30 (43%) of the 70 patients with postoperative meningitis. Chemical meningitis was infrequent after surgery involving the spine and sinuses. Patients with chemical meningitis did not have purulent wound drainage or significant wound erythema or tenderness, coma, new focal neurological findings, or onset of a new seizure disorder. They rarely had temperatures > 39.4 degrees C or cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea or otorrhea. (+info)
A new nephelometric assay for beta-trace protein (prostaglandin D synthase) as an indicator of liquorrhoea.
(5/30)
OBJECTIVES: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of a nephelometric beta-trace protein assay for the diagnosis of liquorrhoea. METHODS: One hundred and forty clinical samples with suspected liquorrhoea were analysed by a newly developed nephelometric assay. An established electroimmunoassay served as a reference method. The sensitivity and specificity of the beta-trace nephelometric assay were calculated by a 2x2 contingency table for 10 different versions of a dichotomised nephelometric variable. In 52 patients (79 samples), the nephelometric findings were validated by referring to the clinical diagnosis based on the course of the disease, imaging techniques, and surgical inspection. RESULTS: Given a specificity of 100%, a beta-trace protein concentration of 6 mg/l or higher in a sample indicated liquorrhoea with a sensitivity of 92% compared with the reference method and of 93% compared with the clinical evaluation. The relation between the electroimmunoassay and the nephelometric assay was highly significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The nephelometric beta-trace protein assay is a simple and rapid method for the detection of liquorrhoea with high sensitivity and specificity and may facilitate the diagnosis of fistulas leaking CSF. (+info)
Prognostic significance of changes in the internal acoustic meatus caused by vestibular schwannoma.
(6/30)
The prognostic significance of the variety of changes in the internal auditory meatus (IAM) caused by vestibular schwannoma was retrospectively analyzed in 69 consecutive patients with vestibular schwannoma. Preoperative bone-window computed tomography was used to classify IAM changes into extensive destruction (17%), widening (46%), and normal IAM (36%). Extensive destruction (47 +/- 19 years) and widening (48 +/- 13) occurred in significantly younger patients than normal IAM (59 +/- 9). Preoperative hearing was significantly more severely disturbed in patients with extensive destruction than in those with widening or normal IAM. IAM change was significantly related to the tumor consistency, as normal IAM was more common in patients with cystic tumor than in those with solid tumor. Postoperative hearing and facial function were worse in patients with severe IAM change, although the relationship between the IAM change and the surgical result was not significant. One patient with extensive destruction developed postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage through the air cells around the IAM, and needed surgical repair. Severe IAM change occurs with solid tumor and causes severely disturbed preoperative hearing in younger patients, which reflects the tumor aggressiveness. Severe IAM change increases the technical difficulty of tumor removal and the risk of postoperative CSF leakage, and is associated with a poorer prognosis for patients with vestibular schwannoma. (+info)
Benefits of swimming pools in two remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia: intervention study.
(7/30)
OBJECTIVE: To determine the health impact of swimming pools built with the aim of improving quality of life and reducing high rates of pyoderma and otitis media. DESIGN: Intervention study assessing prevalence of ear disease and skin infections before and at six monthly intervals after opening of swimming pools. SETTING: Two remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 84 boys and 78 girls aged < 17 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in prevalence and severity of pyoderma and perforation of tympanic membranes with or without otorrhoea over 18 months after opening of pools. RESULTS: In community A, 61 children were seen before the pool was opened, and 41, 46, and 33 children were seen at the second, third, and fourth surveys. Equivalent figures for community B were 60, 35, 39, and 45. Prevalence of pyoderma declined significantly from 62% to 18% in community A and from 70% to 20% in community B during the 18 months after the pools opened. Over the same period, prevalence of severe pyoderma fell from 30% to 15% in community A and from 48% to 0% in community B. Prevalence of perforations of the tympanic membrane fell from 32% in both communities to 13% in community A and 18% in community B. School attendance improved in community A. CONCLUSION: Swimming pools in remote communities were associated with reduction in prevalence of pyoderma and tympanic membrane perforations, which could result in long term benefits through reduction in chronic disease burden and improved educational and social outcomes. (+info)
Subjective evaluation and overall satisfaction after tympanoplasty for chronic simple suppurative otitis media.
(8/30)
A questionnaire survey was conducted in 324 patients with chronic, simple, suppurative otitis media who had undergone tympanoplasty 6 months or more previously to investigate post-operative hearing, tinnitus, vertigo, occlusive feeling of the ear and otorrhea. In addition, the overall satisfaction with tympanoplasty was assessed by VAS value. Subjective hearing improvement was observed in 73.1% of the patients whose hearing was poor and in 50% of those whose hearing was good before the operation. The degree of satisfaction assessed by VAS value corresponded with the subjective hearing assessment. As to tinnitus, 66.2% of the patients became aware of the disappearance or alleviation of symptoms. In the case of patients who had tinnitus before the operation, the degree of awareness of tinnitus and the degree of satisfaction assessed by VAS value coincided. However, no changes in the VAS value were observed in those who did not have tinnitus before the operation. As for vertigo, 30.5% of the patients who had vertigo preoperatively became aware of the disappearance of the symptoms after the operation. The degree of satisfaction assessed by VAS value corresponded with the presence or absence, severity and frequency of vertigo. As to the fullness of the ear, alleviation of the symptoms was subjectively noted by 85.9% of the patients who had symptoms before the operation. The degree of satisfaction assessed by VAS value corresponded with the severity of the symptoms in those who had symptoms before the operation. As for otorrhea, the disappearance of the symptoms was subjectively noted by 85.5% of the patients who had otorrhea before the operation. The degree of satisfaction assessed by VAS value corresponded with the post-operative changes in otorrhea. Based on the above results, it was assumed that the patients placed greatest expectation on hearing improvement when they underwent tympanoplasty. VAS is considered a useful method to evaluate the degree of satisfaction of patients after surgery. (+info)