{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T15:37:41Z","timestamp":1785425861153,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":17,"publisher":"AOSIS","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,20]],"date-time":"2026-03-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773964800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>This brief report describes the presentation and management of a rare case of bilateral spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks resulting from skull base dehiscence in the sphenoid sinus lateral recess. A retrospective review of clinical data, including imaging and surgical interventions, was conducted. Informed consent was obtained. A middle-aged, obese woman presented with clear rhinorrhoea. Imaging identified bilateral encephaloceles and skull base defects. She underwent successful endoscopic surgery with fat grafts and septal flap repair, with no CSF leak recurrence at follow-ups.\nContribution:\u00a0To our knowledge, this case is one of the few documented examples of bilateral spontaneous CSF leaks from skull base dehiscence in the sphenoid sinus. Endoscopic sinus surgery provides a minimally invasive, effective repair. Anatomical variations, such as extensive sphenoid sinus pneumatisation and congenital defects, combined with factors such as high body mass index, may predispose patients to spontaneous CSF leaks.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/jcmsa.v4i1.271","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,19]],"date-time":"2026-03-19T07:04:08Z","timestamp":1773903848000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A unique case report of bilateral spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak from bilateral sphenoid sinus skull base defects"],"prefix":"10.4102","volume":"4","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-4838-2914","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Divya P.","family":"Ramyead Basant Rai","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03p74gp79","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Cape Town"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7412-0521","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lien","family":"Deschuytere","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03p74gp79","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Cape Town"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1065-0694","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Darlene","family":"Lubbe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03p74gp79","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Cape Town"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Aggarwal V, Nair P, Shivhare P, et al. A case of evolving bilateral sphenoidal meningoencephaloceles: Case report and review of the literature. World Neurosurg. 2017;100:708.e11\u2013708.e17. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.wneu.2017.02.037","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wneu.2017.02.037"},{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bendersky DC, Landriel FA, Ajler PM, Hem SM, Carrizo AG. Sternberg\u2019s canal as a cause of encephalocele within the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus: A report of two cases. Surg Neurol Int. 2011;2:171. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/2152-7806.90034","DOI":"10.4103\/2152-7806.90034"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chandrakiran C, Jagannatha AT, Nori S, Reddy HN. Sternberg\u2019s canal: A rare site of CSF leak-our experience and management of a series of cases at a tertiary care hospital in South India. 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