Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea: a review of the literature.

CSF rhinorrhea may be spontaneous or traumatic, the majority of cases being traumatic and presenting within the first three months. Spontaneous leaks imply an underlying abnormality which must be identified prior to treatment. Diagnosis and identification of the site of the leak is often inaccurate, even with meticulous care given to placing and removing the nasal pledgets. Once the leak is identified, medical or surgical treatment may be attempted. Recurrent leaks are common and serial operative procedures have been reported to stop even small leaks.