Lateral Sphenoid Encephalocele: A Rare Cause Of Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea

Lateral sphenoid encephalocele is a rare condition, believed to occur due to a variety of causes, such as persistent Sternberg's canal, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, stenosis of the dural venous sinus, presence of arachnoid pits, and excessive pneumatization of the pterygoid recess of the sphenoid sinus. We report a rare case of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea resulting from a large bony defect in the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus, along with hyperpneumatization of the ipsilateral pterygoid recess. This case is significant due to its uncommon presentation, the clinical and diagnostic challenges encountered, and the valuable insights it offers into preoperative planning.