National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Cerebrospinal fluid leak


Other Names:
CSF leak; CSF rhinorrhea; CSF otorrhea; CSF leak; CSF rhinorrhea; CSF otorrhea; Spinal CSF leak See More
Categories:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea is the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) though the ear. It is a rare but very serious condition that requires rapid intervention. Symptoms include leak of clear fluid through the ear, inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain (meningitis), hearing loss, and seizures. The cause of a spinal fluid leak through the ear is a defect of the bone and meningeal layers covering the brain that separate the subarachnoid space of the brain from the middle ear and mastoid bone (located just behind the ear). The leaks occur after a surgery in the base of the skull, temporal bone fractures, congenital defects of the inner ear, trauma, or they may be spontaneous. Treatment depends on the cause and may include antibiotics, compression dressing and surgery.[1][2] 
Last updated: 12/30/2015

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Cerebrospinal fluid leak. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Cerebrospinal fluid leak. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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  1. Hanson MB. CSF Otorrhea.. Medscape Reference. October 3, 2014; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/883160-overview. Accessed 12/30/2015.
  2. Kou YF, Zhu VF, Kutz JW Jr, Mitchell RB & Isaacson B. Transcanal Endoscopic Management of Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea Secondary to Congenital Inner Ear Malformations. Otol Neurotol. January, 2016.; 37(1):62-65. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26571412. Accessed 12/30/2015.