Although traumatic pneumocephalus is not uncommon, it rarely evolves into tension pneumocephalus (TP). Characterized by the presence of increasing amounts of intracranial air and concurrent appearance or worsening neurological symptoms, TP can be devastating if not recognized and treated promptly. We present two cases of traumatic TP and a concise review of literature on this topic. Two cases o...

A 34-year-old woman presented initially with meningococcal meningitis and with Streptococcus mitis meningitis 6 months later. A right cribriform plate area meningoencephalocele was discovered on MRI at the second episode. In retrospect, this abnormality was present on initial MRI (figure). The patient recalled intermittent watery rhinorrhea for 1 year preceding the first meningitis episode, but...

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is often intermittent, thus complicating the cisternographic localization of the leakage. In four patients studied, this difficulty was overcome by lumbar infusion of artificial CSF to which a bolus of radionuclide was added. The tracer was moved in bulk to the basal cisterns, and the rise in CSF pressure elicited a profuse rhinorrhea. Sequential imaging was...

We report two children presenting with intermittent CSF rhinorrhea and recurrent meningitis. CT scan showed transethmoidal meningoencephalocele.

A microfluidic device with integrated sample preparation is introduced for the detection of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea—a condition resulting in leakage of CSF from the nose due to head trauma. While CSF rhinorrhea is a serious condition, current state-of-the-art diagnostics are expensive or slow (MRI, CT scan or ELISA). We show the capability of a microfluidic immunoassay to accept and proc...

The CDC presented considerations for distinguishing influenza-like illness from inhalational anthrax (MMWR, 9 Nov 01, 50:44 pp. 984-986). “Although many different illness might present with influenza-like illnesses (ILI) symptoms, the presence of certain signs and symptoms might help to distinguish other causes of ILI from inhalational anthrax. Nasal congestion and rhinorrhea are features of mo...