[Computerized tomography in space-occupying lesions of the pineal region. Neurosurgical aspects]

61 patients harboring a space-occupying or vascular lesion of the pineal region were investigated by computed tomography (CT). Out of this series in 50 patients the process was approached by microsurgical techniques. In these cases CT was compared to the intraoperative topographic site and additionally an exact histological evaluation was achieved. Surgical experience and histological results show, that the CT and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging are the most important diagnostic tools in the neuroradiological investigation of pineal region lesions. In some cases a histological diagnosis can be expected from CT. Furthermore the CT enables the neurosurgeon to evaluate the relation of the process to the different anatomical structures and its growth pattern. Thus CT represents a keystone in the microsurgical treatment of lesions of the pineal region.