METHODS: Fifty-five patients with CSF rhinorrhea admitted to our department from October 2016 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients\' conventional CT, CTC, and MRH imaging data were compared, and the location of the leak determined preoperatively matched the location of the leak found during surgery. Moreover, there was no recurrence during the follow-up period of 4 months to 3 years.
RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the diagnostic positivity rate of CTC and spiral CT (χ2=16.755, P<0.00), and between the diagnostic positivity rate of cranial MRH and spiral CT (χ2=6.338, 6.338=0.01), and no statistically significant difference between the diagnostic positivity rate of CTC and cranial MRH (χ2=2.625, P=0.1).
CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of imaging techniques has important practical significance for the proper treatment and prognostic evaluation of CSF rhinorrhea. CTC has the highest positive rate for the diagnosis of CSF rhinorrhea, followed by MRH, while spiral CT is safer. CTC and MRH can promote the diagnostic rate in determining the location of CSF rhinorrhea, and selective combined application can be an important guide to surgery.