[Non-traumatic hypertensive rhinorrhea. Apropos of a case]

Non-traumatic C.S.F. rhinorrhea resulting from hypertensive obstructive hydrocephalus due to an intracranial tumor may constitute the presenting symptom of these affections. The authors report one case of intermittent and positional spontaneous rhinorrhea which was the only sign of a tumor in the pineal region. According to the literature and on the basis of Ommaya's classification of spontaneous rhinorrhea, we emphasize the need to distinguish between ventricular and arachnoid C.S.F leak. This different origins will determine the appropriate (ventricular or lumbar) C.S.F. shunt.