Gorham-Stout disease and cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Gorham-Stout disease is a rare entity characterized by vascular proliferation causing local destruction of bone tissue. Owing to its low incidence and variable clinical presentation, the diagnosis requires a high degree of awareness by the clinician. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 2-year-old boy diagnosed of Gorham-Stout syndrome with involvement of the temporal bone and secondary cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. INTERVENTION: Because of the CSF leakage, the patient required two surgical interventions. The second intervention included mastectomy and placement of a patch and a lumbar drainage device during 50 days, after which the leakage ceased. CONCLUSION: Gorham-Stout disease is a rare condition that can affect the skull base and even present with CSF leakage.

Gorham-stout syndrome of the petrous apex causing chronic cerebrospinal fluid leak.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical course, diagnostic features, and treatment of a case of Gorham-Stout syndrome involving the petrous apex and causing chronic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical capsule report. SETTING: Academic pediatric hospital. PATIENT: A 12-year-old boy presented with a destructive lesion of the right petrous apex and a 1-month history of headache, nausea, and vomiting. INTERVENTIONS: Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a nonenhancing lytic lesion of the right petrous apex and mandibular condyle. The lesions were bright on T2-weighted imaging with high signal intensity extending into the surrounding soft tissues. Leptomeningeal enhancement and an opening pressure of 0 cm of water on lumbar puncture suggested chronic CSF hypotension. Initial surgical exploration revealed diffuse infiltration of CSF into the soft tissue lateral to the temporal bone. Subsequent middle ear and mastoid obliteration was performed to definitely repair the CSF leak. RESULTS: The clinical presentation, physical, laboratory, radiologic, and operative findings are consistent with a diagnosis of Gorham-Stout syndrome. In this case, lymphangiomatosis led to massive osteolysis of the petrous apex with CSF fistula into the surrounding soft tissues and middle ear with chronic intracranial hypotension. CONCLUSION: This is the second report of chronic CSF leak resulting from lymphangiomatosis of the cranial base (Gorham-Stout syndrome).