• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.169-173
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• 1997

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea usually occurs as a result of trauma including operation. Unheated CSF rhinorrhea may induce major morbidity such as meningitis and brain abscess, etc. This paper presents a review of four cases of traumatic CSF rhinorrhea Sites of CSF leakage were easily found out by intrathecal fluorescent dye injection. Surgery was performed by external ethmoidectomy approach and dural tear and bone defect was repaired with abdominal fat and free mucosal graft taken from amputated middle turbinates. We conclude that repair using free fat and mucosal graft via external ethmoidectomy approach could be accepted as the intial method of CSF rhinorrhea management.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.298-302
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• 2015

This case report describes the symptoms and clinical course of a 35-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with a temporo-sphenoidal encephalocele. It is characterized by herniation of cerebral tissue of the temporal lobe through a defect of the skull base localized in the middle fossa. At the time of first presentation the patient complained about recurrent nasal discharge of clear fluid which had begun some weeks earlier. She also reported that three months earlier she had for the first time suffered from a generalized seizure. In a first therapeutic attempt an endoscopic endonasal approach to the sphenoid sinus was performed. An attempt to randomly seal the suspicious area failed. After frontotemporal craniotomy, it was possible to localize the encephalocele and the underlying bone defect. The herniated brain tissue was resected and the dural defect was closed with fascia of the temporalis muscle. In summary, the combination of recurrent rhinorrhea and a first-time seizure should alert specialists of otolaryngology, neurology and neurosurgery of a temporo-sphenoidal encephalocele as a possible cause. Treatment is likely to require a neurosurgical approach.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.403-405
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• 2007

Most posttraumatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is noticed by the patients with the first symptom, rhinorrhea. A 38-year-old woman presented with frequent clear continuous rhinorrhea and otorrhea for 5 years after basilar skull fracture. After this, meningitis was developed with subsequent CSF fistula. Her clinical symptom was improved by medical treatment. The dural defect and CSF leakage were not detected by computerized tomography (CT) cistemography. We report a rare case of persistent posttraumatic CSF fistula that continued for five years.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.555-557
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• 2012

We report an uncommon case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with spontaneous rhinorrhea. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the head revealed an abnormally large sphenoid sinus associated with a parasellar bony defect (Sternberg's canal) through which magnetic resonance imaging could detect an encephalocele of the right temporal lobe. An endoscope-assisted trans-sphenoidal approach was performed and, with the aid of image guided surgery, reduction of the encephalocele was obtained and followed by surgical repair of the dural and bony defects. The postoperative course was uneventful and the cerebrospinal fluid fistula was closed as confirmed by the postoperative CT scan and by the absence of rhinorrhea. After three years of monitoring the patient remained asymptomatic.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.379-383
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• 2018

Septoplasty/septorhinoplasty is a common ear, nose and throat procedure offered for those patients with deviated septum who are suffering from nasal obstruction and functional or cosmetic problems. Although it is a basic and simple procedure, it could lead to catastrophic complications including major skull base injuries which result in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. We describe two different cases of traumatic CSF leaks following septoplasty/septorhinoplasty at two different sites. The first patient suffered a CSF leak following septoplasty and presented to Alexandria University Hospital. The leak was still active at presentation and identified as coming from a defect in the roof of the sphenoid sinus and was repaired surgically. The second patient presented 4 days after her cosmetic septorhinoplasty with a CSF leak and significant pneumocephalus. She was managed conservatively. Understanding the anatomical variations of the paranasal sinuses and implementing proper surgical techniques are crucial in preventing intracranial complications when performing either septoplasty or septorhinoplasty. A good quality computed tomography of the nose and paranasal sinuses is a valuable investigation to avoid major complications especially CSF leaks following either procedure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1204-1208
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• 2000

Objectives : At the closure of the transsphenoidal approach(TSA), the proper sellar floor reconstruction plays an important role in preventing postoperative complications. The septal cartilage, perpendicular plate of nasal septum, and the sphenoid sinus bone are usually used to repair the sellar floor as a bone splint. The authors evaluate the usefulness of a silicone plate as a substitute for bone splint to close a defect of the sellar floor. Materials and Methods : A silicone plate was used to repair the sellar floor in 7 patients with sellar lesions which included four pituitary adenomas, two Rathke's cleft cysts and one metastatic tumor. Among seven cases, five cases underwent a standard TSAs and two received a extended TSAs. The trajectories of the approach were sublabial in four cases and endonasal routes in three cases. The silicone plate for implantation was cut to a size of slightly larger than that of bone window and inserted with a three-pronged fork, and then adjusted precisely. Results : In six patients, there were no complications which related to sellar floor reconstruction. A postoperative cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) rhinorrhea was observed in one patient with pituitary macroadenoma. Conclusions : From the authors' experience, the advantages of the silicone plate are its simplicity of molding to fit any size of sellar floor defects, and easy detection of previously created bone window at reoperation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.355-359
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• 2009

Objective : The definition of empty sella syndrome is 'an anatomical entity in which the pituitary fossa is partially or completely filled with cerebrospinal fluid, while the pituitary gland is compressed against the posterior rim of the fossa'. Reports of this entities relating to the brain tumors not situated in the pituitary fossa, have rarely been reported. Methods : In order to analyze the incidence and relationship of empty sella in patients having brain tumors, the authors reviewed preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 72 patients with brain tumor regardless of pathology except the pituitary tumors. The patients were operated in single institute by one surgeon. There were 25 males and 47 females and mean patient age was 53 years old (range from 5 years to 84 years). Tumor volume was ranged from 2 cc to 238 cc. Results : The overall incidence of empty sella was positive in 57/72 cases (79.2%). Sorted by the pathology, empty sella was highest in meningioma (88.9%, p=0.042). The empty sella was correlated with patient's increasing age (p=0.003) and increasing tumor volume (p=0.016). Conclusion : Careful review of brain MRI with periodic follow up is necessary for the detection of secondary empty sella in patients with brain tumors. In patients with confirmed empty sella, follow up is mandatory for the management of hypopituitarism, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, visual disturbance and increased intracranial pressure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.16-19
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• 2005

Objective: This study is designed to evaluate the clinical outcome, the safety and the effectiveness of the open sella methods(OSM) with intentionally staged transsphenoidal approach(TSA) for giant pituitary adenomas(GPA). Methods: Eight patients with GPA were managed by the OSM with intentionally staged TSA. There were 5 nonfunctioning adenomas, 2 prolactin-secreting adenomas, and 1 growth hormone-secreting adenoma. Among them, 6 patients underwent two times of TSA, one patient underwent three times of TSA, and the other patient underwent two times of TSA followed by radiation therapy. The mean time interval between staged operations was 3.9 months except for one case. Results: Seven out of the eight patients with GPA treated with the OSM with intentionally staged TSA showed that the tumors were completely removed on magnetic resonance imaging and that they were free from headache and visual problem suffered previously. Only one patient experienced severe complications including panhypo-pituitarism, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and permanent diabetes insipidus. Conclusion: With the surgical treatment for 8 cases of GPA, which extended to the suprasellar and parasellar area, we suggest that the OSM with intentionally staged TSA is a safe and effective method in management for GPA.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 2023

Patients with Crouzon syndrome have increased risks of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and meningoencephalocele after LeFort III osteotomy. We report a rare case of meningoencephalocele following LeFort III midface advancement in a patient with Crouzon syndrome. Over 10 years since it was incidentally found during transnasal endoscopic orbital decompression, the untreated meningoencephalocele eventually led to intermittent clear nasal discharge, frontal headache, and seizure. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated meningoencephalocele in the left frontal-ethmoid-maxillary sinus through a focal defect of the anterior cranial base. Through bifrontal craniotomy, the meningoencephalocele was removed and the anterior cranial base was reconstructed with a pericranial flap and split calvarial bone graft. Secondary frontal advancement was concurrently performed to relieve suspicious increased intracranial pressure, limit visual deterioration, and improve the forehead shape. Surgeons should be aware that patients with Crouzon syndrome have the potential for an unrecognized dural injury during LeFort III osteotomy due to anatomical differences such as inferior displacement and thinning of the anterior cranial base.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.329-334
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• 2006

Objective : In selected cases, the transsphenoidal approach[TSA] can be extended anteriorly to the tuberculum sellae, chiasmatic sulcus, and planum sphenoidale to obtain direct exposure of the suprasellar cisterns and its contents. We applied this modification of the TSA to various lesions of the presellar and suprasellar areas. We evaluate our clinical experience of this technique and review the related literature. Methods : From 1999 to 2004, we used the transsphenoidal supradiaphragmatic intradural approachs[TSIAs] in 9 patients who had various lesions at the pre- and suprasellar regions. Concomitant presellar extension of the bone window was performed with the sublabial or transnasal transseptal transphenoidal techniques. After removal of the lesions, sellar or anterior cranial floor was repaired with silicone plate substitute. Results : The TSIAs have been applied in the following cases : four tuberculum sellae meningiomas, two craniopharyngiomas, two Rathke's cleft cysts, and one non-functioning macroadenoma. The complications were one case of visual acuity decrease and one cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. Conclusion : The TSIA is easily applicable through a minor modification of the standard TSA. It is suitable for removing lesions located in the presellar and suprasellar area adjacent to the pituitary stalk with minimal brain manipulation and decreased morbidity.