Abstract: To sum up the treatment experience in dealing with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, a retrospective study of 65 patients with CSFrhinorrhea from March 1990 to December 2002 was managed. 65 patients were treated with conservative therapy. 26 cases were cured after conservative therapy. Of the 7 with transcranial repair, 3 cases were cured. All 3 with extranasal repair succeeded. Of the 20 with transnasal endoscopic surgery, 95%(19/20) cases with endoscopic repair had no CSFrhinorrhea after a first surgery. One succeeded with a second attempt. Ultimately 100%(20/20) of the patients were cured with endoscopic approach. The indication, complication, advantages and disadvantanges of 4 methods were analysed. All patients were followed up from 3 months to 10 years. Results show that transnasal endoscopic surgery is the best way for repairing CSF rhinorrhea.

Key words: cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, endoscopic, treatment