[Treatment of brain stem tumors]

The results of surgical and combined treatment of 155 patients with tumors spreading to various parts of the brain stem as well as the catamnestic data on 50 of 75 patients dismissed from the clinic were studied. The difficulties of identifying a tumor of the stem are shown and methods of neurosurgical diagnosis necessary for determining the precise character of the process and localization of the tumor are discussed. It is stressed that tumors of the stem attended with the hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome must be treated surgically. The treatment should be aimed at partial removal of the tumor or evacuation of the cyst, decompression of the stem, and restoration of C.S.F. drainage by applying bilateral ventriculo-cisternal drainage. It is shown that radiotherapy applied in addition to surgical treatment improves the outcomes.