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Rhinorrhea associated with intracranial cholesteatomas and an “empty sella”
Author(s) -
Thinakkal Ramakrishnan,
Glista Glen,
Reichman O. Howard,
Patel Mahendra,
Derman Gordon,
Borkenhagen Robert
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198010000-00012
Subject(s) - medicine , rhinorrhea , empty sella syndrome , nose , surgery , otorhinolaryngology , neurosurgery , cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea , meningitis , cholesteatoma
Abstract Three related disorders in the same patient, namely bilateral primary intracranial cholesteatomas, an “empty sella” syndrome, and a cerebrospinal rhinorrhea are reported. No previous report of bilateral symmetrical cholesteatomas has been made, though single intracranial cholesteatomas have frequently been recorded in medical literature. The “empty sella” syndrome is generally considered to be from a herniation of the subarachnoid into the sella through a deficient diaphragma sella, and was first defined by Ommaya in 1968. Non‐traumatic (spontaneous) rhinorrhea remains an uncommon disease initially described in 1826. Experience of the individual otolaryngologist is limited in this region because of infrequent occurrence and because definitive treatment is directed to other specialties. On the other hand, the ear, nose and throat physician may be the first to interpret a drainage from the nose. With this in mind, the etiologic, clinical and management factors in the present case are discussed.