Tumours of the Central Nervous System in Infancy and Childhood

Tumours of the central nervous system in infancy and childhood show so many di verse pathomorphological characteristics and present so many diagnostic problems that a congress dealing specifically with the subject and thus bringing together a wide range of experts in the field seemed called for. The programme of the congress, . held in Mainz between 22 and 24 October 1981, was designed to provide compre hensive coverage of diagnosis and the various therapeutic procedures, as well as of basic research in the field. The various lectures given are contained in this book, which thus reflects the complete spectrum of topics discussed. The interest generated by the congress amply justified our decision to organize it. Representatives of various specialities, such as neuropathology, paediatrics, on cology, radiology, neurosurgery, paediatric surgery and neurology, and, last but not least, basic research, provided lively and interesting lectures which admittedly raised more problems than they solved. In addition to the actual papers presented, we attached considerable importance to the different opinions voiced during the congress, as reflected in the discussions included at the end of each chapter.

Inhalt
1 Basic Research and Special Pathology.- Intracranial Tumours of Infancy and Childhood.- Remarks on the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System.- Developmental Neuro-Oncogenesis in Experimental Animals.- Brain Tumours and Genetics.- Interferon and Antitumour Effects.- Rare Intracranial Tumours in Infancy and Childhood.- Intracranial and Spinal Tumours in Newborns and Infants.- The Usefulness of Immunocytological Demonstration of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein for Diagnostic Problems of Cerebral Tumours.- CNS Tumours in Infancy, Childhood, and Adolescence.- Congenital Intracranial Teratoma in a Newborn.- Discussion.- 2 Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, Follow-Up Studies.- Clinical Presentation of Space-Occupying Lesions of the Central Nervous System.- Cytology of Cerebrospinal Fluid in Children with Brain Tumours.- Electrophysiological Diagnosis and Follow-Up Controls in Cases of Tumours of the Optic Chiasm.- Electroencephalograms in Long-Term Survivors of Primary Intracranial Tumours of Childhood.- Early Auditory Evoked Potentials (EAEP) in Children with Neoplastic Lesions in the Brain Stem.- Conventional Investigations of CNS Tumours in Children.- Computer Tomographic Diagnosis of CNS Tumours in Childhood.- Radionuclide Imaging of Cerebral Tumours in Children.- Follow-Up Studies of Brain Tumours in Infants and Children.- Computed Tomography and/or Ventriculography?.- Ventriculography as a Diagnostic Procedure in CNS Tumours in Childhood: Its Indications and Interpretation.- The Diffuse Brain Stem Astrocytoma in Childhood: Morphology, Course, and Prognosis.- Astrocytoma with Extracranial Metastases.- Diktyoma (Medulloepithelioma). A Rare Neuro-Epithelial Tumour of the Eye.- Intracranial Teratoma of a Newborn. Computer Tomographic and Morphological Findings.- The Isolated Fourth Ventricle: Review of Current Concepts and Report on Three Cases in Children.- Follow-Up Findings with CT Scan and Ventriculography After Radiotherapy of Inoperable Midline Tumours in Childhood.- Discussion.- 3 Surgical Treatment.- Evolutional, Developmental, and Clinical Aspects of Brain Stem Organisation.- Standard Techniques and Microsurgical Procedures in the Removal of Supratentorial and Infratentorial Tumours.- Additional Operative Procedures (Shunt Systems, Leksell and Torkildsen Drainage).- The Significance of Continuous Recording of Intracranial Pressure in Children with Brain Tumours.- Preoperative and Postoperative Intensive Care and Oedema Therapy.- Therapy of Peritumoural Brain Oedema.- CT-Sterotactic Biopsy of Brain Tumours.- Diagnostic Potential of Stereotactic Biopsy of Brain Tumours. A Report of 400 Cases.- Internal Shunt or Perioperative Pressure-Controlled Ventricular Fluid Drainage (C-VFD) in Children and Juveniles with Infratentorial Tumours.- Indications and Experiences with the Ommaya-Reservoir for Treatment of CNS Neoplasms in Childhood.- Indications for the Trans-Sphenoidal Approach to Craniopharyngioma Operations in Youth and Childhood.- Which Considerations Determine the Choice Between the Subfrontal and Trans-Sphenoidal Approach to Tumours of the Sellar Region in Youth and Childhood?.- The Influence of Different Antihypertensive Drugs on Intracranial Pressure.- Ventriculocisternostomy by the Method of Leksell Indications, Technique, and Results.- Discussion.- 4 Radiotherapy.- The Radiosensitivity of the Infant Brain.- Radiation Technique and the Planning of Treatment in Brain Tumours in Children.- Experiences with the Treatment of Cystic Craniopharyngiomas by Stereotactically Injected Radioisotopes.-Radiosurgery in Intracranial Tumours and Arteriovenous Malformations in Children.- Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of the Astrocytomas and Midline Tumours of Childhood.- Radiotherapeutic Principles in the Combined Treatment of CNS Tumours in Children.- Postoperative Chemotherapy Prior to Radiotherapy in the Combined Treatment of Medulloblastoma, Ependymoma and Tumours of the Pineal Region: Early Results.- Radiotherapy of Medulloblastoma: Radiation Technique, Results, and Complications.- Report on the Medulloblastoma Study of the Society of Paediatric Oncology Present Position.- Data on the Biology of Medulloblastomas.- Treatment of Meningeal Malignancy with Intrathecal 198Au-Colloid and Methotrexate. The Example of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).- Infratentorial Tumours Treatment and Results in 109 Children.- Discussion.- 5 Chemotherapy, Late Effects, and After-Treatment.- Cytostatic Monotherapy of Tumours of the Central Nervous System in Children.- Rationale of Combined Chemotherapy of Brain Tumours.- Acute Toxicity of Chemotherapy of Tumours of the Central Nervous System in Children.- Late Effects After Treatment of Brain Tumours in Childhood.- Development After Treatment of Cerebellar Medulloblastoma in Childhood.- Spongioblastoma in Childhood. Remarks on Problems in Diagnosis and Treatment.- Medulloblastoma. Relationship of Histologic Type to Survival.- Ophthalmological Findings in Long-Term Survivors After Primary Brain Tumours in Childhood.- Endocrinological Investigations in 68 Children with Brain Tumours.- Supratentorial Tumours in Infants and Children.- Discussion.- Final Comments and Summing-Up.