Idiopathic cerebrospinal fluid leakage from a patent fallopian canal involving arachnoid cyst in an infant: A case report

Summary 

Objective: To describe idiopathic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea from a patent fallopian canal in an 11-month-old boy and to discuss the case with reference to the literature.

Study design: Case report. Patient, intervention and results: We present the case of an 11-month-old boy with idiopathic CSF otorrhea caused by congenital fallopian canal. The patient underwent attico-antrotomy and CSF leakage from the labyrinthine portion of the facial nerve canal was confirmed. Several pieces of cortical bone, temporalis fascia and a temporal muscle flap with fibrin glue were used to pack the fistula. Neither CSF otorrhea nor meningitis has been observed for 7 years postoperatively.

Conclusions: Idiopathic CSF otorrhea is extremely rare and only 10 other cases of leakage from the fallopian canal have been reported. The patient in this case is the youngest to have been reported.

Keywords: Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea, Patent fallopian canal, Infant, Cisternography