Anteromedial temporal encephalocele: A rare cause for spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea

Abstract

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea in an adult without prior history of head trauma is a rare occurrence. Neuroimaging is done to ascertain the site of bony defects in the cranium and breach in the continuity of dura to localize the site of CSF leakage. Encephaloceles into the sphenoid sinus occurring through congenital bony defects in the walls of the sinus are an extremely rare cause for CSF rhinorrhea. We present a case of spontaneous, nontraumatic CSF rhinorrhea due to an anteromedial encephalocele where the temporal lobe was seen herniating into the right sphenoid sinus through a congenital bony defect in the wall of the sinus. A review of the present literature is also presented.

Keywords

• Anteromedial temporal encephalocele
• cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea
• magnetic resonance imaging