Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T14:47:29.811Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Management of temporal bone meningo-encephalocoele

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2008

K K Ramalingam*
Affiliation:
Chairman and Chief Consultant, In the Institute of ENT and Head and Neck, KKR ENT Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, India
R Ramalingam
Affiliation:
Managing Director and Senior Consultant, In the Institute of ENT and Head and Neck, KKR ENT Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, India
T M SreenivasaMurthy
Affiliation:
Consultant, In the Institute of ENT and Head and Neck, KKR ENT Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, India
G R Chandrakala
Affiliation:
resident trainee, In the Institute of ENT and Head and Neck, KKR ENT Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, India
*
Address for correspondence: Prof K K Ramalingam, KKR ENT Hospital and Research Institute Private Ltd, 274 (old no 827) Poonamallee High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai 600 010, India. Fax:  +91 44 26412727 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Meningo-encephalocoele of the temporal bone, also known as fungus cerebri, is a rare occurrence in clinical practice. We present a series of 13 patients with chronic otitis media who suffered brain herniation into the mastoid cavity. We also discuss the presentation and management of brain herniation with or without cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Study design:

Retrospective.

Methods:

Among 963 cases undergoing revision mastoid surgery, 13 patients suffered brain herniation. These cases were identified and analysed.

Results:

All 13 patients' initial diagnosis was chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma, and all had undergone previous mastoid surgery resulting in a defect in the tegmen and weakening of the dura mater. The revision procedures performed included 10 (76.9 per cent) modified radical mastoidectomies without ossicular chain reconstruction and one (7.6 per cent) modified radical mastoidectomy with ossicular chain reconstruction; two (15.3 per cent) patients required a blind sac closure. Brain herniation and/or cerebrospinal fluid leak were repaired by a transmastoid ± minicraniotomy procedure.

Conclusions:

Injury to the tegmen and dura should be avoided during surgery for chronic middle-ear disease. Cerebrospinal fluid leaks, if encountered, should be managed in the same surgical session. The transmastoid approach is helpful in repairing defects smaller than 1 cm in diameter, whereas the combined transmastoid-minicraniotomy approach provides good access when closing defects larger than 1 cm in diameter and also enables auto-calvarial grafting.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Jackson, CG, Pappas, DG Jr, Manolidis, S, Glasscock, ME 3rd, Von Doersten, PG, Hampf, CR et al. Brain herniation into the middle ear and mastoid: concepts in diagnosis and surgical management. Am J Otol 1997;18:198206Google ScholarPubMed
2 Yang, E, Yeo, SB, Tan, TY. Temporal lobe encephalocoele presenting with seizures and hearing loss. Singapore Med J 2004;45:40–2Google ScholarPubMed
3 Dean, LW. Operative procedure for brain abscess of otitic origin. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1910;19:541–56CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4 Aristequi, M, Falcioni, M, Saleh, E, Taibah, A, Russo, A, Landolfi, M et al. Meningoencephalic herniation into the middle ear: a report of 27 cases. Laryngoscope 1995;105:512–18Google Scholar
5 Lundy, LB, Graham, MD, Kartush, JM, LaRouere, MJ. Temporal bone encephalocele and cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Am J Otol 1996;17:461–9Google ScholarPubMed
6 Manolidis, S. Dural herniations, encephaloceles: an index of neglected chronic otitis media and further complications. Am J Otolaryngol 2002;23:203–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7 Hyson, M, Andermann, F, Oliver, A, Melanson, D. Occult encephaloceles and temporal lobe epilepsy: developmental and acquired lesions in the middle fossa. Neurology 1984;34:363–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8 Patel, Rakesh B, Kwartler, Jed A, Hodosh, Richard M, Baredes, Soly. Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leakage and middle ear encephalocele in seven patients. Ear, Nose Throat J May, 2008Google Scholar
9 Vallicioni, JM, Girard, N, Caces, F, Braccini, F, Magnan, J, Chays, A. Idiopathic temporal encephalocele: report of two cases. Am J Otol 1999:20;390–3Google ScholarPubMed
10 Kaseff, LG, Seidenwurm, DJ, Nieberding, PH, Nissen, AJ, Remley, KR, Dillon, W. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain herniation into the middle ear. Am J Otol 1992;13:74–8Google ScholarPubMed
11 Ramanikanth, TV, Smith, MCF, Ramamoorthy, R, Ramalingam, KK. Post auricular cerebellar encephalocoele secondary to chronic suppurative otitis media and mastoid surgery. J Laryngol Otol 1990;104:982–5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12 Kizilay, A, Aladag, I, Cokkeser, Y, Ozturan, O. Dural bone defects and encephalocele associated with chronic otitis media or its surgery [in Turkish]. Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtis Derg 2002;9:403–9Google ScholarPubMed
13 Uri, N, Shupak, A, Greenberg, E, Kelner, J. Congenital middle ear encephalocele initially seen with facial paresis. Head Neck 1991;13:62–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14 Adkins, WY, Osguthorpe, JD. Mini-craniotomy for management of CSF otorrhea from tegmen defects. Laryngoscope 1983;93:1038–40CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15 May, JS, Mikus, JL, Matthews, BL, Browne, JD. Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea from defects of temporal bone: a rare entity? Am J Otol 1995;16:765–71Google ScholarPubMed
16 Kuhweide, R, Casselman, JW. Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea from a tegmen defect: transmastoid repair with minicraniotomy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1999;108:653–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed