Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Presenting as Headache: A Case Report

TL;DR

A young woman experienced a rare cerebrospinal fluid leak, causing headache, neck stiffness, and vision changes, highlighting the importance of considering rare causes for common symptoms.

Contribution

This case report adds to the literature by presenting a rare clinical scenario of cerebrospinal fluid leak mimicking common headache causes.

Findings

The patient's symptoms were caused by a cerebrospinal fluid leak, not typical headache causes.

The case emphasizes the need for clinicians to consider rare diagnoses when evaluating common symptoms.

Early recognition of cerebrospinal fluid leaks can prevent complications and guide appropriate treatment.

Abstract

Headache is a common chief complaint among patients. When presented with this chief complaint, clinicians often form a differential diagnosis of common etiologies, including dehydration, increased stressors, and medication side effects. However, a skillful clinician must always be vigilant of rare etiologies presenting with common chief complaints. Here, we present a rare case of a cerebrospinal fluid leak in a young female presenting with primary symptoms of headache, neck stiffness, and vision changes.

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