Summary
Delayed post-traumatic erosion of the skull base is reported in three patients who presented as adults with cerebrospinal fluid fistulae and a history of recurrent meningitis. These skull defects were associated with herniation of the subarachnoid space into the diploe of the skull base, the paranasal sinuses and the orbit. This rare complication of head injury is assumed to have occurred as the result of a dural tear at the time of trauma. Its site probably determines whether a resulting meningocele widens the intradiploic space or broaches the cranial floor.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Taveras JM, Ransohoff J (1953) Leptomeningeal cysts of the brain following trauma with erosion of the skull. A study of seven cases treated by surgery. J Neurosurg 10: 233–241
Pia WH, Tönnis W (1953) Die wachsende Schädelfraktur des Kindesalters. Z. Neurochir 13: 1–23
Lende RA, Erickson TC (1961) Growing fractures of childhood. J Neurosurg 18: 479–489
Hillman RSL, Kieffer SA, Ortiz H, Clubb R (1975) Intraosseous leptomeningeal cysts of the posterior cranial fossa. Neuroradiology 116: 655–659
Dunkser SB, McCreary HS (1971) Leptomeningeal cysts of the posterior fossa: case report. J Neurosurg 34: 687–692
Kaijima M, Maeyama R (1981) Intradiploic leptomeningeal cysts of the posterior fossa. A case report. Neurol Med.-Chir (Tokyo) 21: 785–788
Nemoto S, Hoffman HJ (1986) Leptomeningeal cyst of the posterior fossa. Case report. J Neurosurg 65: 704–705
Palaoglu S, Beskonakli E, Senel K, Taskin Y, Yalcinlar Y (1990) Intraosseous location of posterior fossa post-traumatic leptomeningeal cyst. Demonstration by computerised tomography. Neuroradiology 32: 78
Peyser E, Weissberg D (1961) Post-traumatic arachnoidal cyst: report of an unusual case. J Neurosurg 18: 551–553
Halliday AL, Chapman PH, Heros RC (1990) Leptomeningeal cyst resulting from adulthood trauma: case report. Neurosurgery 26: 150–153
Cook PG, Norman PF (1988) Case report: intradiploic leptomeningeal cyst of the frontal bone occurring as a complication of head injury in an adult. Clin Radiol 39: 214–215
Abernethy LJ, Whittle IR, Sellar RJ (1989) Case report: leptomeningeal cyst of the orbit presenting with pulsatile exophthalmos. Clin Radiol 40: 531–532
Byrne JV, Ingram CE, MacVicar D, Sullivan FM, Uttley D (1990) Digital subtraction cisternography: a new approach to fistula localisation in cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 53: 1072–1075
Dyke CG (1938) The roentgen-ray diagnosis of diseases of the skull and intracranial contents. In: Golden R (ed) Diagnstic roentgenology, vol 1. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 1–34
Billroth T (1862) Ein Fall von Meningocele spuria cum fistula ventriculi cerebri. Arch Klin Chir 3: 398–412
Rowbotham GF (1945) Acute injuries of the head. Their diagnosis, treatment, complications and sequels. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, p 424
Pancoast HK, Pendergrass EP, Schaeffer JP (1940) The head and neck in roentgen diagnosis. Thomas, Springfield, pp 976–979
Penfield W, Erickson TC (1941) Epilepsy and cerebral localization. A study of the mechanisms, treatment and prevention of epileptic siezures. Thomas, Springfield, p 623
Glaser MA, Blaine ES (1940) Fate of cranial defects secondary to fracture and surgery. A follow-up study of 150 patients. Radiology 34: 671–684
Kingsley D, Till K, Hoare R (1978) Growing fractures of the skull. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 41: 312–318
Schwartz CW (1941) Leptomeningeal cysts from a roentgenological viewpoint. Am J Roentgenol 46: 160–165
Goldstein F, Sakoda T, Kepes JJ, Davidson K, Brackett CE (1967) Enlarging skull fractures: an experimental study. J Neurosurg 27: 541–550
Godlee RJ (1885) Two cases of simple fracture of the skull in infants, followed by the development of a pulsating subcutaneous tumour. Trans Pathol Soc Lond 36: 313–324
Goldstein FP, Brackett CE (1973) Post-traumatic leptomeningeal cysts. In: Youmans JR (ed) Neurological surgery. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 1009–1012
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Byrne, J.V., Britten, J.A. & Kaar, G. Chronic post-traumatic erosion of the skull base. Neuroradiology 34, 528–531 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00598968
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00598968