[Spontaneous rhinorrhea disclosing intranasal meningoencephalocele and ependymoma of the 4th ventricle].

The authors report a case of a spontaneous rhinorrhea due to an intranasal meningoencephalocele associated with a benign, perhaps congenital, ependymoma of the floor of the fourth ventricle. The tumour was initially unknown, because clinical symptoms suggested a congenital aqueductal stenosis (macrocrania, no neurological signs, association with a congenital defect of the cranial base). This observation, which belongs to "hypertensive spontaneous rhinorrhea" suggests that the C.S.F. fistula is possible only when hydrocephalus coexists with a congenital abnormality of the cranial base. Therapeutic problems are discussed: the direct approach of the fistula alone is most often insufficient, the treatment of the hydrocephalus alone is possible, but may induce a tension pneumocephalus, the best attitude is the treatment in the same stage, of the fistula and the hydrocephalus. But, in case of chronic non communicant hydrocephalus, aqueductal tubing or ventriculocisternostomy can be insufficient and permanent internal C.F.S. derivation may be performed.