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The antioedematous action of dexamethasone was assessed in 28 patients with supratentorial and infratentorial intracranial tumours and craniocerebral trauma. The criteria of evaluation included the state of consciousness, signs of focal cerebral injury, autonomic disturbances and signs of raised intracranial pressure. The greatest improvement was obtained in patients having intracranial tumours with herniation of the brain stem. In cases of extensive craniocerebral trauma no evident improvement was achieved.

Five patients with supraventricular subarachnoid cysts are described. In most patients epilepsy was the presenting sign. Cerebral angiography showed in all cases only an avascular lesion and and the correct diagnosis was established only during the operation. In only one case recurrent filling of the cyst was observed.

The authors report a rare case of suicidal attempt with drilling of a joiner's drill into the head. The patient was mentally ill. In the light of literature survey the rarity of such self-inflicted injuries is stressed, the operative technique is discussed and the usefulness of angiography in certain cases is pointed out.

The authors discuss diagnostic difficulties in 3 cases of inflammatory-obliterative processes in the posterior cranial fossa in children. Clinical and other investigations suggested presence of expansive lesions. The diagnosis was established only during the operation.

A case of pinealoma is described in a patient aged 16 years who had been treated initially conservatively with ventriculoperitoneal shunting and cobalt irradiation of the whole brain. The spine was not irradiated because of absence of histological examination. After 6 months the patient returned to hospital with paraparesis and pains in the sacral area. Myelography demonstrated contrast stop at the Th10-11 level. The surgically removed tumour was a pinealoblastoma. Improvement was achieved after postoperative treatment with methotrexate, vincristine and belustin.