Hostname: page-component-6766d58669-76mfw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-20T01:01:16.978Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension presenting to the ENT surgeon: case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 October 2008

S Street ,
P Fagan  and
J Roche
S Street*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrissant, Wales, UK
P Fagan
Affiliation:
Department of Otoneurosurgery and Skull Base Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
J Roche
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Imaging, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Sara Street, ENT Department, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Ynysmaerdy, Llantrisant CF72 8XR, Wales, UK. Fax: 01443 443304 E-mail: sarastreet@doctors.org.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

To highlight a case of spontaneous intracranial hypotension presenting to the ENT surgeon.

Method:

We present a case report and a review of the literature concerning spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Results:

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is a rare diagnosis, particularly to the ENT surgeon. We report a patient with tinnitus, hearing loss and headache, symptoms suggestive of an ENT diagnosis such as Ménière's disease or vestibular schwannoma. However, magnetic resonance imaging revealed the characteristic findings of spontaneous intracranial hypotension. The patient's symptoms resolved, except for a mild residual tinnitus, with conservative management alone.

Conclusion:

This case highlights the importance of considering spontaneous intracranial hypotension as a differential diagnosis of certain ENT symptoms.

Keywords

Spontaneous Intracranial HypotensionAcoustic NeuromaMeniere's DiseaseHeadacheTinnitus

Information

Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 7 , July 2009 , pp. 804 - 806
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

1 Miller, RS, Tami, TA, Pensak, M. Case report: spontaneous intracranial hypotension mimicking Meniere's disease. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2006;135:655–66CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2 Schaltenbrand, G. Newer pathophysiology of liquor circulation [in German]. Zentrabl Neurochir 1938;3:290–300Google Scholar
3 Huang, CR, Chuang, YC, Lee, CH, Lee, RJ, Lin, TK. Spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak and intracranial hypotension. Clin Imaging 2000;24:270–2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4 Malone, RE, Love, JN. Spontaneous intracranial hypotension: case report and relevant review of the literature. J Emerg Med 2007;32:371–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5 Schievink, WI, Gordon, OK, Tourje, J. Connective tissue disorders with spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid leaks and intracranial hypotension: a prospective study. Neurosurgery 2004;54:65–71CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6 Blank, SC. Spontaneous intracranial hypotension: clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 1997;99:199–204Google ScholarPubMed
7 Murakami, M, Matsuno, A, Nakashima, M, Tanaka, H, Katayama, H, Nagashima, T. Magnetic resonance imaging in spontaneous intracranial hypotension. International Congress Series 2004;1259:375–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8 Schievink, WI. Spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid leaks and intracranial hypotension. JAMA 2006;295:2286–96CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed