[Brain tumors with acute or apoplectiform initial symptoms]

A report is given on 31 patients with cerebral tumours, 13 of whom (6.6 per cent) showing apoplectiform and 21 (10.7 per cent of the total number of patients) acute initial symptoms. Apoplectiform courses were equally frequent in malignant and benign tumours, acute courses were predominant in malignant tumours. Development of oedemas and/or local blood flow disturbances were most frequently of pathogenetic importance, followed by haemorrhages and finally circulatory disturbances of the spinal fluid. Prognostically important are dignity and seat of the tumour, not the fact of the dramatic manifestation. Differential-diagnostic problems result most frequently from cerebrovascular haemorrhages. In conclusion casuistics.