[The so-called pressure zone of the cerebellum]

Systematic studies on the so-called cone of basal parts of the cerebellum employing a scale of either qualitative and quantitative intensity revealed the following: A cone extension of basal cerebellum parts is to be observed in 80.9% of random post-morten examination cases with insignificant differences in sex. Cerebellum cone frequency amounts to 12.8% in babies, up to 66.7% in infants from 1 to 14 years of age, and to 91.8% in persons above 15 years of age. Cones are not found in foetusses. Cones are almost exclusively formed with the participation of those cerebellum parts adjacent to the tonsils, so that the termin "tonsil cone" is incorrect. Cerebellum cones can be distinguished by various degrees in size. The 1st degree corresponds to a cone height of 5 mm, 2nd degree between 5 and 10 mm, and 3rd degree to 10 mm and above. Statistical analysis shows that the cone height follows normal distribution, the mean value of height being 4.8 mm. No correlation has been found between the cone height and clinically detected state of cerebral pressure as well as between space requiring processes during the post-mortem examination. Hence the term "pressure cone" is wrong. There is a positive correlation between cone formation and other so-called morphological symptoms of cerebral pressure. But it is doubtful, whether these symptoms may be regarded as a result of pressure on the brain. The occurrence of a cerebellum basal sphere cone is considered a normal filling up process of any internal space in the skull during brain acceleration. It is only in exceptional cases of cone sizes 10 mm and more, that cone formation is significant for the diagnosis of a possible increase in cerebral volume. Considering the obviously minimal significance of basal cerebellum cone in diagnosing an increase in cerebral volume, the following is a suggestion to prove a condition of cerebral pressure by means of complementary space determination of the skull.