Nontraumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea as a result of pseudotumor cerebri

Abstract 

Objective

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that pseudotumor cerebri, also known as benign intracranial hypertension, can be an overlooked cause of spontaneous, nontraumatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea.

Study design and methods

This study presents a literature review and 2 case reports. The medical records of 2 patients who had nontraumatic CSF rhinorrhea were reviewed.

Results

The patients were diagnosed as having spontaneous, nontraumatic CSF rhinorrhea, believed to have been caused by pseudotumor cerebri, and were surgically treated. The patients are obese, middle-aged women.

Conclusions

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea is most often the result of trauma, but it may also occur spontaneously because of nontraumatic causes in some patients. Pseudotumor cerebri can be an overlooked cause of spontaneous, nontraumatic CSF rhinorrhea. A patient with signs and symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri should be evaluated and treated, if the condition is present, to prevent complications that include irreversible visual loss and CSF rhinorrhea.