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The study by bistochemical method of some dehydrogenases in 74 glioblastoma multiforma permits to distinguish several metabolic groups. But if particular attention is payed to the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase, it is noted to be observed only in the small, dedifferentiated cells when the survival postoperative time was more than twelve months. As it is known that an operated glioblastoma does not survive more than one year, except if it is a secondary glioblastoma, it is concluded that the existence of this enzyme in those little cells permits to distinguish secondary from primitive glioblastoma.

Two cases of meningiomas with metastasis are presented. The first case is typically a fibroblastic meningioma. After a local recurrence, dissemination occurs in the CSF with multiples localizations. The second case is a parasagittal meningioma of meningotheliomatous type. After two recurrences, a lymph node metastasis is discovered. Three modes of dissemination are known: through the blood vessels, the lymphatics or the CSF. The different spreads and mechanisms are discussed.

The authors present the results of the postoperative I.C.P. records in 35 patients. The results emphasize the relationship between the clinical grading and the degree of the intracranial pressure: 4/7 grades III (Hunt and Hess grading) and all the grades IV (4/4) had an abnormal intracranial pressure. The location of the aneurysm does not clearly appear as a significant factor of increased intracranial pressure in the postoperative period.

Fifty-two patients were examined both with computed tomography using a different third generation scanner and by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at half Tesla field strength (Philips Gyroscan 5 S). Excellent contrast and spatial resolution as well as initial comparative results of normal anatomy and also selected clinical cases were demonstrated with the spin-echo (SE) and/or inversion recovery (IR) technique. The clinical material included a residual prolactinoma after transphenoidal surgery, follow-up of a recurrent partly calcified solid and cystic intra-/supra-sellar craniopharyngioma, low-grade glioma under stereotactic-like conditions, suspected pinealoma, recurrent astrocytoma (II-III) and ganglioneuroma at the posterior aspect of the middle and/or lower brain stem, small scar after lower brain stem infarction, stenosing degenerative disease of the cervical spine and multicystic lesion with an underlying benign ependymoma of the cervical spinal cord. MRI--although duplicating some CT results--provided better two- or three-dimensional anatomical detail as well as display of relevant vessels without need of contrast agent. It also gave more specific information in suprasellar tumours containing fat, afforded uniquely specific diagnosis in a bleeding venous malformation of the midbrain and defined more sensitively extra-/intra-axial lesions of the brain stem and cervical spinal cord. Small bony structures (erosions) and punctate calcifications may be missed by MRI. Although ferromagnetic material distorts the MR image, compared with CT, it is not impaired by non-ferromagnetic clips. This is an advantage with respect to postoperative control examinations.