Primary central nervous system lymphoma.

INTRODUCTION: Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a rare subtype of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma that accounts for 4% of central nervous system tumours. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 24 patients diagnosed with primary central nervous system lymphoma between 1990 and 2010. All patients were diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging and the diagnosis was confirmed surgically. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients analysed, all except 4 were immunocompetent. Median age at diagnosis was 59.3 years (range 13-79) and the sex ratio (male to female) was 1:1.1. Cognitive decline (in 33.4%) and headache (in 25%) were the most common complaints. Diagnosis was performed In 13 cases (54%) following craniotomy and in the other 11 cases (46%) after stereotactic biopsy. Breakdown by pathology was as follows: 22 cases of B-cell lymphoma (91.6%), 1 case of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, and 1 case of T-cell lymphoma. Mean survival time was 12.8 months with an overall 1-year survival rate of 37.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Primary central nervous system lymphoma often presents in the sixth decade with cognitive decline, headache, and focal neurological deficits. A single intracranial lesion was present in 75% of the patients (18 cases), and the remaining 25% (6 cases) had between 2 and 4 lesions. Preoperative clinical status was the most important factor determining prognosis.

[Chronic subgaleal hematoma in a child. Case report]. / Hematoma subgaleal crónico en un lactante. Presentación de un caso.

Neonatal subgaleal hematomas are under-diagnosed collections of blood beneath the galea, often caused by certain obstetric procedures such as use of forceps or vacuum. They generally have low volume and often resolve spontaneously. Occasionally, they can achieve a large volume and may endanger the live of the affected newborns. Rarely, they become chronic and exceptionally they may require surgical treatment. We report the case of a child under one year of age who was referred to our department because of a subgaleal hematoma secondary to vacuum-assisted delivery that required surgical treatment.

[Pituitary apoplexy. A review]. / Apoplejía pituitaria. Revisión del tema.

Pituitary apoplexy constitutes a syndrome that is characterized by the ischemic infarction or hemorrhage into a pituitary tumour. Clinically the patient develops sudden headache, meningismus, visual disturbances, even blindness, and occasionally decrease in level of consciousness. To diagnose it is basic to perform a cerebral MRI. Treatment consists in urgent sellar decompression by transsphenoidal surgery and substitute therapy with steroids.

[Isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy secondary to an atlantoccipital joint synovial cyst. Case report and literature review]. / Parálisis aislada del nervio hipogloso secundaria a quiste articular atlanto-occipital. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Hypoglossal nerve palsy is commonly associated with the involvement of other cranial nerves. His injury is rarely isolated. We present a patient in which paralysis is due to the presence of a "juxtafacet cyst" of the atlanto-occipital joint. We review the anatomy of the hypoglossal nerve, different therapeutic options, the differential diagnosis and papers published to date.

[Intracranial injury caused by captive bolt gun]. / Lesiones intracraneales originadas con pistola de bala cautiva.

Guns bullet or captive bolt is used as a weapon for stunning animals as a prelude to sacrifice. Placed in front of it induce an immediate loss of consciousness, thus achieving a "humanization" of process. It's use for suicide is rare, almost exclusively of people who have access to them because of their occupation, causing severe injuries to the brain. We analyse three cases presented in our service. One of them dies as a result of injuries.

[Chronic subdural hematoma associated with arachnoid cyst. Report of 12 cases]. / Hematoma subdural crónico asociado a quiste aracnoideo. Presentación de 12 casos.

INTRODUCTION: We designed this study to investigate the clinical, neurological, and radiological outcome of patients with chronic subdural hematoma related to an intracranial arachnoid cysts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of 12 cases of patients with arachnoids cyst complicated with chronic subdural hematoma were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Between January 1984 and April 2008, 12 patients (0.9%) of 1.253 cases of chronic subdural hematoma surgically treated in our hospital had associated arachnoid cyst. Arachnoid cysts were located in the middle fossa (10 cases) and convexity (2 cases). The most frequent symptom was headache (6 cases), followed by seizures (3 cases). Eleven patients underwent burr hole and drainage; the oldest patient was treated conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AC, especially when these are located in temporal fossa, appear to harbour a life-long risk of contracting subdural hematoma. Hematoma evacuation is adequate at first operation and if arachnoid cyst is symptomatic or preoperative symptoms persist, additional arachnoid cyst surgery should be considered.

[Filum terminale ependymomas. Analysis of a serie of 20 consecutive cases]. / Ependimomas del filum terminal. Análisis de 20 casos consecutivos.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the clinical, radiological and surgical outcome of a series of filum terminale ependymomas. Patients and methods. This retrospective study involved 20 patients with 21 ependymomas of the filum terminale encountered during a 21 year period (1988- 2008). All patients were diagnosed using MRI and surgically treated. RESULTS: the male: female ratio was 1:1.5, and the mean age at diagnosis was 44.8 years (range 15-64). First symptom included radicular pain (12 cases) and lumbar pain in the other 8 cases, with average symptom duration of 8.7 years (range 0-6-32). All patients underwent open biopsy, seventeen tumours received gross-total resection and 4 received subtotal resection. Histologically, 20 tumours were myxopapillary ependymomas (grade I) and 1 case a grade II ependymoma. The mean follow-up period was 8 years (range 1-18 years). CONCLUSIONS: filum terminale ependimomas are slow growing tumours of the cauda equina with a high incidence in young adults. The most common presentation is with low back pain long time evolution. Although ependymomas of the filum terminale are thought to be benign, local recurrence is not uncommon.

[Unknown intracerebral tumour presenting as brainstem compression following unintentional dural puncture]. / Tumor cerebral no conocido que se presenta con compresión del tronco cerebral tras punción dural accidental.

A 36-year old primigravid of 41 weeks gestation was admitted to the labour ward. Her past medical history included hyperemesis gravidarum and migraine. An accidental dural puncture occurred during labour epidural analgesia. In the postpartum period she presented with continuous headache, and was treated with oral analgesics, oral caffeine, fluid therapy, and tetracosactide. She refused an epidural blood patch. On the seventh day postpartum, the patient was re-admitted to the Emergency Department with decreased level of consciousness and signs of brainstem compression. Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a posterior fossa tumour. An emergency craniotomy was performed with complete neurological recovery. This case emphasises the need to consider the differential diagnoses of post-dural puncture headache and to highlight the warning signs in patients who do not respond despite treatment with conventional therapy.

[Subependymoma of the lateral ventricle. A case report]. / Subependimoma del ventriculo lateral. A proposito de un caso.

INTRODUCTION. Intracranial subependymomas are rare, slow-growing, noninvasive, benign tumors. They are most often located in the fourth ventricle. Most of these tumors are discovered incidentally during autopsy. Routine medical checkups using neuroimaging techniques have increased their diagnosis. Subependymomas may present with symptoms related to cerebrospinal fluid obstruction or mass effect. CASE REPORT. A 52-year-old man presented with severe headache and mental deterioration with memory disturbances and bradypsychia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass in the right lateral ventricle causing obstructive hydrocephalus. The tumour was totally removed through a right frontal transcortical approach. Histological examination showed a typical subependymoma. A complete neurological recovery was achieved after surgery. CONCLUSIONS. Subependymomas are rare low-grade glial neoplasm that commonly arise in the ventricular system. They have a low-proliferative potential but in these locations they can cause symptomatic hydrocephalus. Surgical removal of the mass and the restoration of the normal cerebrospinal fluid pathways constitute the optimal management strategy.

[Intracranial gangliogliomas. A review of a series of 20 patients]. / Gangliogliomas intracraneales. Revisión de una serie de 20 pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: A ganglioglioma is a type of primary central nervous system low grade tumour composed of mixed populations of glial and neuroepithelial elements. They accounts for 0.4 to 2% of all intracranial tumours and appear more commonly in children and young adults. Seizures, which are the most important symptom in these tumours, improve significantly after surgical excision. METHODS: Between 1995 and 2008, 20 patients with (12 adults and 8 children) with intracranial ganglioglioma were treated at our hospital. Clinical information obtained by chart review included sex, age at onset of symptoms, clinical history, results of neurological examination, tumour location, CT and MRI appearance, surgical results and follow-up. All patients underwent tumour resection and the extent of surgery was determined from the surgical reports and postoperative imaging studies. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 26.4 years (range, 1-75 years), and the female to male ratio was 1.5:1. Except in one case, all patients had seizures with a median duration before diagnosis of 7.4 years (range 1-29). Seventeen tumours were located in the temporal lobe (9 right and 8 left). Macroscopically complete excision was performed in 17 patients and subtotal in the remaining 3. There were 4 cases of recurrence treated by surgery and radiotherapy being added in one case. The mean follow up was 8.5 years (range 22 months-14 years) and disease free survival at 5 years was 85% and an overall survival of 95%. CONCLUSIONS: The seizures, which are the most frequent symptoms, significantly improved after surgical removal. Surgery is the first choice of therapy in these tumours, and in the presence of subtotal resection or tumour recurrence the best indication for treatment is repeat surgery. Radiotherapy should be reserved only for malignant forms.

Hematoma subgaleal crónico en un lactante. Presentación de un caso / Chronic subgaleal hematoma in a child. Case report

Los hematomas subgaleales neonatales son colecciones sanguinolentas, localizadas entre la galea y el tejido conectivo epicraneal; con frecuencia son infradiagnosticados, y en la mayoría de las ocasiones guardan relación con determinados procedimientos obstétricos como el uso de fórceps o ventosa. En general tienen poco volumen y suelen solucionarse espontáneamente. Ocasionalmente pueden alcanzar gran tamaño y ponen en riesgo la vida del recién nacido; excepcionalmente tienden a la cronificación siendo necesario para su tratamiento emplear procedimientos quirúrgicos. Exponemos el caso de una paciente menor de un año de edad que presenta un hematoma subgaleal secundario a parto asistido con ventosa y que precisó tratamiento quirúrgico (AU)

Neonatal subgaleal hematomas are underdiagnosed collections of blood beneath the galea, often caused by certain obstetric procedures such as use of forceps or vacuum. They generally have low volume and often resolve spontaneously. Occasionally, they can achieve a large volume and may endanger the live of the affected newborns. Rarely, they become chronic and exceptionally they may require surgical treatment. We report the case of a child under one year of age who was referred to our department because of a subgaleal hematoma secondary to vacuumassisted delivery that required surgical treatment (AU)

Apoplejía pituitaria. Revisión del tema / Pituitary apoplexy. A review

La apoplejía pituitaria es un síndrome caracterizadopor una necrosis o hemorragia en el seno deun tumor hipofisario. Clínicamente cursa con cefalearepentina, signos de irritación meníngea, alteracionesen la agudeza visual, incluso ceguera y en ocasiones disminucióndel nivel de conciencia. Para el diagnósticoes fundamental la realización de pruebas radiológicas,siendo la de elección la resonancia magnética. El tratamientoconsiste en la descompresión quirúrgica sellartransesfenoidal urgente y terapia sustitutiva con altasdosis de corticoides (AU)

Pituitary apoplexy constitutes a syndrome that ischaracterized by the ischemic infarction or hemorrhageinto a pituitary tumour. Clinically the patient developssudden headache, meningismus, visual disturbances,even blindness, and occasionally decrease in level ofconsciousness. To diagnose it is basic to perform a cerebralMRI. Treatment consists in urgent sellar decompressionby transsphenoidal surgery and substitutetherapy with steroids (AU)

Lesiones intracraneales originadas con pistola de bala cautiva / Intracranial injury caused by captive bolt gun

Las pistolas de bala cautiva o clavija perforadora son empleadas para aturdir al animal como paso previo al sacrificio. Colocadas en la frente del mismo inducen una inmediata perdida de consciencia, logrando así una “humanización” del proceso. Su uso con fines suicidas es raro, casi exclusivo de personas que tienen acceso a las mismas dada su ocupación laboral, causando graves lesiones a nivel cerebral. Analizamos tres casos que se presentaron en nuestro servicio. Uno de ellos fallece como consecuencia de las lesiones ocasionadas (AU)

Guns bullet or captive bolt is used as a weapon for stunning animals as a prelude to sacrifice. Placed in front of it induce an immediate loss of consciousness, thus achieving a "humanization" of process. It´s use for suicide is rare, almost exclusively of people who have access to them because of their occupation, causing severe injuries to the brain. We analyse three cases presented in our service. One of them dies as a result of injuries (AU)

Hematoma subdural crónico asociado a quiste aracnoideo. Presentación de 12 casos / Chronic subdural hematoma associated with arachnoid cyst. Report of 12 cases

Objetivos. Analizar las características clínicas,neurológicas y resultado neurorradiológico de una seriede pacientes con quiste aracnoideo asociado a un hematomasubdural crónico.Pacientes y método. Revisamos retrospectivamente12 casos de pacientes con quiste aracnoideo que presentaroncomo complicación un hematoma subduralcrónico.Resultados. Entre enero de 1984 y abril de 2008, 12pacientes (0.9%) de 1.253 casos con hematoma subduralcrónico presentaban un quiste aracnoideo intracraneal.La localización de los quistes fue en 10 casos en la fosatemporal y los otros dos en la convexidad. Los síntomasde presentación fueron cefalea en 6 pacientes (50%),seguidos por convulsiones (3 casos). En once pacientesse realizó agujero de trépano y drenaje del HSC, lapaciente de más edad fue tratada de forma conservadora.Únicamente se trataron 3 quistes aracnoideosmediante craneotomía y fenestración, con resolucióncompleta del quiste.Conclusiones. Los pacientes con quiste aracnoideo,sobre todo si esta localizado en la fosa temporal, tienenun mayor riesgo de sufrir un hematoma subduralcrónico. La primera opción terapéutica es el drenajedel hematoma subdural y si persiste la sintomatologíadeberá tratarse el quiste aracnoideo (AU)

Introduction. We designed this study to investigatethe clinical, neurological, and radiological outcome ofpatients with chronic subdural hematoma related to anintracranial arachnoid cysts.Patients and methods. Medical records of 12 cases ofpatients with arachnoids cyst complicated with chronicsubdural hematoma were retrospectively reviewed.Results. Between January 1984 and April 2008,12 patients (0.9%) of 1.253 cases of chronic subduralhematoma surgically treated in our hospital had associatedarachnoid cyst. Arachnoid cysts were located inthe middle fossa (10 cases) and convexity (2 cases). Themost frequent symptom was headache (6 cases), followedby seizures (3 cases). Eleven patients underwentburr hole and drainage; the oldest patient was treatedconservatively.Conclusions. Patients with AC, especially whenthese are located in temporal fossa, appear to harboura life-long risk of contracting subdural hematoma.Hematoma evacuation is adequate at first operationand if arachnoid cyst is symptomatic or preoperativesymptoms persist, additional arachnoid cyst surgeryshould be considered (AU)

Tumor cerebral no conocido que se presenta con compresión del tronco cerebral tras punción dural accidental / Unknown intracerebral tumour presenting as brainstem compression following unintentional dural puncture

Se trata de una primigrávida de 36 años de edad en su semana 41 de gestación con antecedentes de hiperemesis gravídica. Durante la analgesia epidural se produjo una punción dural accidental. En el posparto presentó cefalea persistente, tratada mediante analgésicos orales, cafeína, fluidoterapia y tetracosáctido, rechazando el parche hemático epidural. En el séptimo día posparto la paciente reingresó en el Servicio de Urgencias con deterioro del nivel de conciencia y datos de compresión del tronco cerebral. La tomografía computarizada y la resonancia magnética craneales mostraron un tumor de fosa posterior. Se realizó una craneotomía con carácter de urgencia, con recuperación neurológica completa. Resaltamos la importancia del diagnóstico diferencial de la cefalea pospunción dural y destacamos los signos de alarma ante los pacientes que no responden a los tratamientos convencionales (AU)

A 36-year old primigravid of 41 weeks gestation was admitted to the labour ward. Her past medical history included hyperemesis gravidarum and migraine. An accidental dural puncture occurred during labour epidural analgesia. In the postpartum period she presented with continuous headache, and was treated with oral analgesics, oral caffeine, fluid therapy, and tetracosactide. She refused an epidural blood patch. On the seventh day postpartum, the patient was re-admitted to the Emergency Department with decreased level of consciousness and signs of brainstem compression. Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a posterior fossa tumour. An emergency craniotomy was performed with complete neurological recovery. This case emphasises the need to consider the differential diagnoses of post-dural puncture headache and to highlight the warning signs in patients who do not respond despite treatment with conventional therapy (AU)

Linfomas primarios del sistema nervioso central / Primary central nervous system lymphoma

Introducción: Los linfomas primarios del sistema nervioso central son una variedad poco frecuente de linfomas no hodgkinianos que constituyen alrededor del 4%de los tumores del sistema nervioso central. Pacientes y métodos: realizamos una revisión retrospectiva de 24 pacientes diagnosticados de linfoma primario del sistema nervioso central entre enero de 1990 y diciembre de 2010. Todos los pacientes fueron diagnosticados con resonancia magnética y confirmados quirúrgicamente. Resultados: De los 24 pacientes analizados, 4 presentaban inmunodeficiencia. La media de edad era de 59,3 anos (intervalo 13-79) y la relación entre varones y mujeres de 1 a 1,1. El deterioro cognitivo (33,4% de los pacientes) y la cefalea (22,5%) fueron los signos de presentación más frecuentes. El diagnóstico se realizó en 13 casos (54%) tras llevar a cabo una craneotomía y en los otros 11 (46%) mediante biopsia estereotáctica. La distribución histoló- gica mostró que 22 casos (91,6%) eran linfomas tipo B, un caso un linfoma anaplásico de células gigantes y el otro correspondió a un linfoma de células T. La supervivencia media fue de 12,8 meses y a un ano˜ del 37,5%. Conclusiones: Los linfomas cerebrales primarios se presentan alrededor de la sexta década dela vida y clínicamente se manifiestan con deterioro cognitivo, cefalea y déficits neurológicos focales. El 75% de los pacientes (18 casos) presentaban únicamente una lesión intracraneal y elrestante 25% (6 pacientes) entre 2 y 4 lesiones. El estado clínico preoperatorio constituye el factor pronóstico más importante (AU)

Introduction: Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a rare subtype of extranodal nonHodgkin lymphoma that accounts for 4% of central nervous system tumours Patients and methods: Retrospective review of 24 patients diagnosed with primary central nervous system lymphoma between 1990 and 2010. All patients were diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging and the diagnosis was confirmed surgically. Results: Ofthe 24 patients analysed, all except 4 were immunocompetent. Median age at diagnosis was 59.3 years (range 13-79) and the sex ratio (male to female) was 1:1.1. Cognitive decline (in 33.4%) and headache (in 25%) were the most common complaints. Diagnosis was performed In 13 cases (54%) following craniotomy and in the other 11 cases (46%) after stereotactic biopsy. Breakdown by pathology was as follows: 22 cases of B-cell lymphoma (91.6%), 1 case of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, and 1 case of T-cell lymphoma. Mean survivaltime was 12.8 months with an overall 1-year survival rate of 37.5%. Conclusions: Primary central nervous system lymphoma often presents in the sixth decadewith cognitive decline, headache, and focal neurological deficits. A single intracranial lesión was present in 75% of the patients (18 cases), and the remaining 25% (6 cases) had between 2 and 4 lesions. Preoperative clinical status was the mostimportantfactor determining prognosis (AU)

Estimulación cerebral profunda. Una alternativa a la cirugía bariátrica / Deep brain stimulation. An alternative to bariatric surgery

La obesidad, constituye actualmente un problema sanitario de primera magnitud en el mundo occidental. La mayoría de las técnicas de cirugía bariátrica se basan en modificar el tracto digestivo (bypass gástrico, la banda gástrica o el balón intragástrico). A pesar de haberse reducido los índices de mortalidad, la ganancia de peso se produce en numerosas ocasiones después de la cirugía debido al mal control de la dieta. La estimulación cerebral profunda es una técnica quirúrgica de elección en un grupo de pacientes seleccionados con diferentes trastornos del movimiento y dado su buen resultado en estas patologías se han extendido sus aplicaciones a ciertas alteraciones del comportamiento (depresión y trastorno obsesivo compulsivo). Realizamos una revisión de la literatura sobre las diferentes regiones anatómicas del cerebro involucradas con la obesidad y las evidencias de trabajos experimentales que apoyan estas regiones como posibles dianas para estimulación cerebral profunda en pacientes con obesidad (AU)

Obesity has become one of the greatest threats to global public health in the new millennium. Most surgical interventions for obesity have focused on modifying the anatomy of the alimentary tract and include gastric bypass, gastric banding and intragastric balloon placement. Despite reductions in mortality rates, weight gain may occur following bariatric surgery due to dietary relapse. High-frequency deep brain stimulation is the treatment of Choice for well selected patients with medically refractory movement disorders. The success of deep brain stimulation in relieving parkinsonism has led to its application in multiple neurological diseases and more recently to treatment psychiatric condition (depression and obsessive compulsive disorders). We revised the literature implicating various neural regions in the pathophysiology of obesity, as well as the evidence supporting these regions as targets for deep brain stimulations, in order to explore the therapeutic promise of brain stimulation in obesity (AU)

Tratamiento mínimamente invasivo del hematoma subdural crónico del adulto. Resultados en 116 pacientes / Minimally invasive treatment of chronic subdural haematoma in adults: results in 116 patients

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Gangliogliomas intracraneales. Revisión de una serie de 20 pacientes / Intracranial gangliogliomas. A review of a series of 20 patients

Introducción: El ganglioglioma es un tumor primario, de bajo grado, del sistema nervioso central constituido por una población celular mixta de elementos gliales y neuronales. Representan entre el 0,4 al 2% de todos los tumores intracraneales y afectan fundamentalmente a niños y adultos jóvenes. Métodos: Entre los años 1995 y 2008 hemos tratado en nuestro hospital 20 pacientes (12 adultos y 8 niños) con ganglioglioma intracraneal. Revisamos retrospectivamente el sexo, el síntoma de inicio y la edad, sintomatología y tiempo de evolución, exploración neurológica, localización del tumor, aspecto en la tomografía computarizada y resonancia magnética, el tratamiento quirúrgico y la evolución. Todos los pacientes fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente y la extensión de la resección fue evaluada de la hoja operatoria y del seguimiento neurorradiológico. Resultados: La media de edad de los pacientes fue de 26,4 años (rango 1-75) y el ratio mujer/varón fue de 1.5:1. Excepto en un caso, todos los pacientes debutaron con crisis epilépticas, con una duración media antes del diagnóstico de 7,4 años (rango 1-29). Diecisiete tumores estaban localizados en el lóbulo temporal (9 derechos y 8 izquierdos). Se realizó extirpación macroscópicamente completa en 17 pacientes y subtotal en los 3 restantes. Se presentaron 4 recidivas que fueron tratadas mediante reintervención, añadiéndose radioterapia en uno de los casos. El tiempo medio de seguimiento fue de 8,5 años (rango 22 meses-14 años), la supervivencia libre de enfermedad a los 5 años fue del 85% y la supervivencia global del 95%. Conclusiones: Las crisis epilépticas, que constituyen el síntoma más frecuente mejoran de forma significativa tras la extirpación quirúrgica. El tratamiento quirúrgico es la primera opción terapéutica en este tipo de tumores, y ante la presencia de resecciones subtotales o recidivas tumorales la mejor indicación de tratamiento es la reintervención. La radioterapia debe reservarse únicamente para las formas malignas (AU)

Introduction: A ganglioglioma is a type of primary central nervous system low grade tumour composed of mixed populations of glial and neuroepithelial elements. They accounts for 0.4 to 2% of all intracranial tumours and appear more commonly in children and young adults. Seizures, which are the most important symptom in these tumours, improve significantly after surgical excision. Methods: Between 1995 and 2008, 20 patients with (12 adults and 8 children) with intracranial ganglioglioma were treated at our hospital. Clinical information obtained by chart review included sex, age at onset of symptoms, clinical history, results of neurological examination, tumour location, CT and MRI appearance, surgical results and follow-up. All patients underwent tumour resection and the extent of surgery was determined from the surgical reports and postoperative imaging studies. Results: The median age of patients was 26.4 years (range, 1-75 years), and the female to male ratio was 1.5:1. Except in one case, all patients had seizures with a median duration before diagnosis of 7.4 years (range 1-29). Seventeen tumours were located in the temporal lobe (9 right and 8 left). Macroscopically complete excision was performed in 17 patients and subtotal in the remaining 3. There were 4 cases of recurrence treated by surgery and radiotherapy being added in one case. The mean follow up was 8.5 years (range 22 months-14 years) and disease free survival at 5 years was 85% and an overall survival of 95%. Conclusions: The seizures, which are the most frequent symptoms, significantly improved after surgical removal. Surgery is the first choice of therapy in these tumours, and in the presence of subtotal resection or tumour recurrence the best indication for treatment is repeat surgery. Radiotherapy should be reserved only for malignant forms (AU)