Endoscopic endonasal resection of a nasal meningoencephalocele - Case report

Nasal meningoencephaloceles are rare findings, represented by protrusions of intracranial contents into the nasal cavity. They present as unilateral masses, and commonly determine unilateral nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea and non-characteristic headaches.

We present the case of a 34-year-old patient diagnosed with a posttraumatic transethmoidal meningoencephalocele. The patient presented with unilateral nasal obstruction, mild headache and episodic watery rhinorrhea. The treatment was endoscopic endonasal surgical excision and repair of the skull base defect, in a mixt ENT-neurosurgical team. Patient follow-up showed no remaining mass or symptoms and normal closure of the skull base defect.