Liquorrhoea is the escape of cerebrospinal fluid, manifested by escape of fluid from the nose (rhinorrhoea) or ear (otorrhoea). The most frequent cause of the development of liquorrhoea is an injury or else conditions after surgery of a tumour with a close relation to the cranial base, and congenital anomalies. A patient with liquorrhoea runs the permanent risk of frequent and very serious complications. When considering the diagnostic procedure, knowledge of the precise site and extent of the osseous and dural defect is essential. This is reliably visualised by CT cisterno- graphy which provides also information on the amount of penetrating contrast substance. At present this method is generally available. In the submitted paper the authors summarise findings and experience with CT cisternography assembled in a group of 13 patients with nasal liquorrhoea in correlation with surgical findings. Data are provided on a relatively rare finding of paradoxical rhinorrhoea.

        Key words: liquorrhoeal fistula - diagnosis - CT cisternography - paradoxical rhinorrhoea