Congenital deformity of the internal auditory meatus and labyrinth associated with cerebrospinal fluid fistula.

A type of inner ear deformity characterised by a tapering internal auditory meatus and dilated, dysplastic labyrinth was demonstrated by tomography in seven patients. Two of these developed cerebrospinal fluid fistulae through the oval window. The path of the fistula in this and other congenital deformities of the inner ear is discussed.