[Computed tomographic control of the course of primary brain tumors following radiotherapy]

Two hundred and seventy-eight CT scans are presented which were carried out on 105 patients following radiotherapy for primary cerebral tumours. Of these, 90 had surgery and 15 did not. Amongst 63 patients who showed abnormal enhancement before irradiation, enhancement was reduced in 32, increased in ten and remained the same in 17 following treatment. Of the 42 patients who did not show enhancement before irradiation, this was observed in 24 patients after treatment, but not in the remaining 18. Changes in the pattern of contrast enhancement was very variable in both groups. Other signs of tumour (compression of ventricles, mid-line displacement, ventricular dilatation) showed no differences in the groups. Changes in the central nervous system due to irradiation were observed in 25% of cases.