The Use of Lugol Test in Determining the CSF Leaks Location of the Anterior Skull Base

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea is a rare medical problem but with increased mortality potential due to the risk of meningitis. This condition can be either traumatic or nontraumatic, based on the etiology. The traumatic CSF fistulas represent almost 80% of the entire CSF fistulas, surgical procedures cause nearly 16% of the CSF leaks in the anterior skull base, and the nontraumatic CSF leaks represent only 4%, and they are divided in normal-pressure and high-pressure fistulas. The diagnosis of CSF leaks is made by demonstrating the evidence of extracranial CSF. The diagnostic methods are double ring sign, glucose content of the nasal fluid, Beta-trace protein test, Beta2-transferrin test. To eliminate this risk of meningitis, when a CSF leak is discovered, the defect must be closed surgically. The challenge is to determine the exact location of the defect, mainly in cases of spontaneous CSF fistulas. The imagistic examination consists of CT scans and MRI tests. The gold standard for detecting CSF leakage is still intrathecal injection of fluorescein with endoscopic localization of the dural defect. This paper aims to analyze a staining test, using Lugol solution, to detect the location of the CSF fistula. The Lugol staining test that we proposed is quick, cheap, it does not produce a toxic reaction, excepting the Iodine allergic patients, and it can be used to detect the location of the skull base defect and the CSF leak.