Spontaneous resolution of cerebrospinal fluid otorrhoea in a patient with a Hyrtl's fissure.

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports a rare case of cerebrospinal fluid leak due to a Hyrtl's fissure and discusses the non-operative management of the case. Background and case report: Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhoea is a rare phenomenon arising from an abnormal communicating tract between the subarachnoid space and middle ear. Affected patients are at a higher risk of developing meningitis and other neuro-otological complications. There are four common congenital causes of cerebrospinal fluid otorrhoea in the region of a normal labyrinth. This paper describes a case of cerebrospinal fluid in the middle ear resulting from a Hyrtl's fissure, which resolved spontaneously.

CONCLUSION: A literature search indicated this to be the first case with such a resolution without the need for any intervention.