Superior Canal Dehiscence in Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea

Abstract

Objective: Determine the incidence of superior semicircular canal dehiscence in patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea.

Method: This is a retrospective case review at a tertiary care referral center. Patients included underwent a middle fossa craniotomy for repair of spontaneous CSF otorrhea between January 2007 and December 2011. The main outcome measure is the presence or absence of a dehiscent semicircular canal observed during spontaneous CSF leak repair.

Results: Thirty-three ears in 31 patients underwent surgical repair for spontaneous CSF otorrhea via a middle fossa craniotomy. The average age at the time of repair was 60.5 years and 80.6% of patients were women. The left ear was more commonly involved in 66.7% of cases. An encephalocele was observed in 69.7% of ears. A dehiscence of the superior canal was observed in 15.2% of ears (16.1% of individuals). All ears with a dehiscent superior canal were also observed to have an encephalocele. No significant difference in age, BMI, or gender was noted between those patients with or without a superior canal dehiscence.

Conclusion: The incidence of superior semicircular canal dehiscence in ears with spontaneous otorrhea is 15.2%. This incidence is greater than that reported in a temporal bone study of ears not selected for CSF otorrhea.