[Special diagnostic and surgical problems in tumors of the 4th ventricle in adulthood]

Within 30 years, 1028 operations because of cerebellar tumours have been carried out at the Neurosurgical University Hospital in Leipzig. Of these, 167 were related to tumours within the 4th ventricle or encroaching a little outside of it. In the group of the adults (from the 18th year), 54 observations were made. These patients are subdivided according to histology (ependymomas in the first place), according to clinical findings (high values of cerebral pressure symptoms), according to the duration of the case history in dependence upon histology (long duration of angioblastomas and ependymomas), according to the possibilities of radicality (somewhat below the values in child age), the condition at discharge (better than in child age) and the cause of death (absolute predominance of central causes). A comparison is made with the results obtained with the studied patients in child age. Subsequently, the operation tactics of the Leipzig hospital is dealt with and the respective value of microneurosurgery carried out 10 years before is emphasised. A striking improvement for benign tumours can now only be achieved by a considerably improved early diagnosis.