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."

Spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhages are the most dangerous complication of cerebral vascular disease. Because of their frequency and the fact that they lead to serious injuries, prolonged disabilities and, often, death, they have acquired an enormous significance, both medically and socially. Their precise diagnosis, location, wide extent and accomp ying manifestations were for a very long time uncertain and, in small and deeply situated haematomas, these factors were impossible to determine. Diagnosis was confirmed by the clinical picture, by angiography and sometimes by ventriculography and included, in the main, both lobar and more extensive haematomas. The results of operative treatment following the first attempt of H. Cushing in 1903 were poor and remained unsatisfactory in spite of the endeavours of numerous authors (Guillaume et al. 1956; Lazorthes 1956; McKissock et al. 1959; Luessenhop 1967 and many others). Especially for the most frequent and typically hypertensive haematomas in the region of the internal, capsule, the opinion was often expressed that operative treatment was useless.

Microsurgery has brought about important changes and progress in the treatment of cere bral aneurysms in recent years. Only 12 years ago McKissock, one of the most experienced surgeons in the treatment of aneurysms pompared the results of operative and nonoperative treatment. He found that mortality and morbidity of cerebral aneurysms was not significantly affected by whether the patients have been operated upon or not. This view is held by many neursurgeons, and was confirmed by results of the Co-operative Study in 1969. In the review on treatment of aneurysms in Progress in Neurological Surgery in 1969, techniques such as encasement with plastic compounds, piloinjection, stereotactic copper or electric thrombosis and metallic thrombosis and profound hypothermia in anaesthesia were listed. In general, these techniques now seem to be of little more than historical interest. Progress in recent yeats has been so enormous that one may perhaps gain the impreSSion that the main problems in the treatment of aneurysms have been solved and that there are no more to be surmounted. This is dangerous and complacent thinking, such as Lord Moynihan indulged in during the thirties. For this reason we thought that the time had come to assemble a group of experts who could discuss the various unsolved and contro versial problems of aneurysm surgery in the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of a "work shop.""