Abstract
ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to analyze research activity on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks in general and CSF rhinorrhea and otorrhea in particular and to identify the main topic clusters in these areas.MethodsWe identified all relevant documents, using the medical subject heading (MeSH) term “Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak”, that are indexed in the MEDLINE database between 1945 and 2018. We performed a descriptive bibliometric analysis and analyses of networks and research clusters in order to identify the main topic areas of research.ResultsFrom 1945 to 2018, a total of 4,130 records were published with the term CSF leak, including 2,821 documents (68.1%) with the term CSF rhinorrhea and 1,040 documents (25.8%) with CSF otorrhea. The number of documents published increased from 10 in 1945-49 to 642 in 2010-14. Articles represented the dominant document type (86.8% of the documents analyzed), while case reports were the main type of study (37.4%). In terms of geographical distribution, researchers from the USA led in the number of signatures (39.1%), followed by those from the UK (7.5%). The most active areas of research in the field were “Postoperative Complications,” “Tomography, X-Ray Computed,” and “Magnetic Resonance Imaging.” The terms “Adults,” “Young Adult,” and “Middle-Aged” were most common in CSF rhinorrhea research; and the terms “Infant,” “Child, Preschool,” “Child,” and “Adolescent” were more common in CSF otorrhea.ConclusionsBased on our findings, articles and case reports related to “Surgery” and “Postoperative Complications” associated with the diagnosis are the main topics of study, highlighting the importance of this document type in advancing knowledge in the field.
Highlights
From 1945 to 2018, a total of 4,130 records were published with the term Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, including 2,821 documents (68.1%) with the term CSF rhinorrhea and 1,040 documents (25.8%) with CSF otorrhea
Articles and case reports related to “Surgery” and “Postoperative Complications” associated with the diagnosis are the main topics of study, highlighting the importance of this document type in advancing knowledge in the field
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is the discharge of CSF through a hole in the skull bone, most commonly involving drainage from the nose (CSF rhinorrhea) or from the ear (CSF otorrhea), occurring either through the external auditory meatus or through the eustachian tube into the nasopharynx [1]
Summary
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is the discharge of CSF through a hole in the skull bone, most commonly involving drainage from the nose (CSF rhinorrhea) or from the ear (CSF otorrhea), occurring either through the external auditory meatus or through the eustachian tube into the nasopharynx [1]. Common etiologies of CSF rhinorrhea include trauma, neoplasms, and prior surgery, while CSF otorrhea is usually associated with craniocerebral trauma, neurosurgical procedures, or other conditions; both conditions may occur spontaneously [2]. The past decades have witnessed a significant increase in research publications in the field of otorhinolaryngology [3]. Several studies have analyzed the scientific production in the fields of otorhinolaryngology and head-neck surgery [5-7] and neurosurgery [8-15]. There are several publications focusing on the topic in different countries, including African countries, and Morocco [9,11]. Other manuscripts have analyzed specific research topics in neurosurgery, like
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
