Posttraumatic cerebrospinal fluid leak with cognitive dysfunction, especially visual memory disturbance: illustrative case

CSF leaks can manifest primarily as cognitive dysfunction, even without typical headache or imaging findings, leading to diagnostic delays and potential misdiagnosis of psychiatric illnesses. Visual memory impairment might represent a characteristic and underrecognized feature of a CSF leak. Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment with domain-specific testing is essential for accurate diagnosis of atypical presentations. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE25939.