[A case of metastasis of a pineal germinoma to the vertebral canal]. / Przypadek przerzutu szyszyniaka plodowego do kanalu kregowego.

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.

Subdural haematoma associated with dural carcinomatosis in a patient with primary carcinoma of pancreas.

The authors describe a rare case of subdural haematoma in a patient with dural carcinomatosis associated with a primary carcinoma of the pancreas. The diagnosis of the intracranial lesion was established by carotid angiography and the patient was operated on but died 2 weeks after operation because of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. It is thought that the subdural fluid accumulation resulted from the occlusion of the dural capillaries with neoplastic cells with subsequent haemorrhages.

[Diagnostic difficulties in inflammatory-obliterative processes in the posterior cranial fossa in children]. / Trudnosci diagnostyczne w procesach zapalno- -zarostowych tylnej jamy czaszki u dzieci.

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.

[Supraventricular subarachnoid cysts]. / Nadnamiotowe torbiele podpajeczynówkowe.

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.

[Rare case of attempted suicide by drilling a joiner's drill into the head]. / Rzadki przypadek usilowania samobójstwa przez wkrecenie wiertla stolarskiego w glowe.

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.

Clinical evaluation of the action of dexamethasone.

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.