[Clinical pattern of malignant brain tumors in patients over 50 years of age]

On the basis of a material of 180 cases from a hospital department of neurology the clinical course of malignant brain tumours in patients aged over 50 years was outlined. In 154 cases the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by histological investigations. The study showed that intracranial raised pressure syndrome was rather infrequent in this age group (5% in this material), with the exception of headaches. The most frequent manifestations were psychic changes and neurological deficit signs (hemiparesis). The course of the disease was frequently acute with rapid increase in the intensity of symptoms and signs. The cases unrecognized clinically accounted for 14.4% of this material. From the admission to the hospital a very rapid progression of manifestations was observed which seemed to be connected with association of blood flow disturbances.