Endonasal Endoscopic Management of a Large Meningocephalocele in a Patient with Concomitant Middle Skull Base Defect

Abstract

The presence of a skull base defect can lead to major complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leak, meningocele, encephalocele and meningitis. It is exceptional to find the existence of two concomitant defects in the skull base. We present the case of a patient with concomitant spontaneous defects of the anterior and middle skull base that were surgically repaired. After 18 years of right rhinorrhea the patient was referred after being diagnosed with a large right nasal fossa meningoencephalocele, which was surgically removed by functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Following the surgery the patient complained about unilateral ear fullness. A paracentesis revealed a highly suspicious cerebrospinal fluid collection. High resolution scans revealed a defect in the mastoid tegmen; subsequently a transmastoid approach was carried out. Greater defects or those lying around the internal auditory canal, are best treated via the middle fossa approach. In the anterior cranial fossa the treatment of choice is provided by endoscopic procedures, but frontal bone craniotomy should be considered if the defect is in the frontal sinus or greater than 5 cm in size.