Ayub K. Ommaya - CSF Rhinorrhea

CSF Rhinorrhea

Before Ommaya’s work, CSF rhinorrhea was classified as either traumatic or spontaneous. The second category was essentially a catchall category which did not assist in guiding treatment approaches.14,18 Ommaya classified non traumatic rhinorrhea as resulting from either high pressure leaks (tumors & hydrocephalus) or "normal" leaks (congenital abnormalities, focal atrophy, oysteomyelitis). Nontraumatic rhinorrhea is a challenge in diagnosis and choice of surgical approach. Of importance to successful surgical outcome is the demonstration of fistula. Within the non traumatic category, CSF rhinorrhea occurring with primary empty sella (PES) was first reported by Ommaya.31