Endoscopic Management o Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Fistula Caused by Clival Defect

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is that the fluid in subarachnoid space leaks into the nasal passage in any way as a transparent discharge. Cerebrospinal fluid fistulas generally develop as secondary to trauma. Only 3% of CSF fistulas develop spontaneously. Spontaneous CSF fistulas are mostly originated from ethmoid roof and cribriform plate; however, the development of spontaneous CSF fistula due to defect in clivus is very rare. To our knowledge, till date only 13 patients with spontaneous CSF fistulae due to Clivus defect have been reported in English literature. In this clinical report, the authors aimed to contribute to the literature by reporting a 56-year-old patient who has been treated in our clinic with spontaneous CSF fistula due to clivus defect.