This volume contains the proceedings of the latest in a series of international symposia on advances in neuro-oncology, held September 26-29, 1990, in San Remo, Italy and sponsored by the University of Pavia, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Matteo (Pavia, Italy) and the Giovanni Lorenzini Medical Foundation (Milan-Houston). It drew papers from six continents of the world, was attended by over 500 investigators, and demonstrated the extraordinary vitality, depth and breadth of research which characterizes modem neuro-oncology. Over the course of the last decade, there has been a remarkable shift in research carried out in the heterogeneous field of neuro-oncology, which appears to be away from clinical descriptive studies, and toward more basic and fundamental investigation of the pathology, immunohis tochemistry, biochemical and cellular subsets of brain tumors. Besides the traditional fields of neurology, neurosurgery, neuropathology, and radiation therapy, there has been an increased interest and involvement by investigators in the fields of medical oncology, neuroradiology, immunology, and many areas of fundamental neurobiology. It has become evident that interest has also been exhibited in a broader spectrum of tumors than just the malignant glial series, and studies in meningioma, craniopharyngioma, neurinomas, and the pituitary tumors were reported. Several sessions were devoted to the special problems of pediatric brain tumors."

The first international symposium on brain edema was held in Vienna/ Austria in 1965 followed by altogether eight meetings since. The most recent was organized in Y okohama by the Department of Neurosurgery of the Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo. The continuing interest of both, clinicians and experimental scientists alike may be attributable to the fact that brain edema is a common denominator of many cerebral disorders, which under acute conditions threatens life and weIl-being of afflicted patients. Although progress in understanding as weIl as treatment can be recognized since 1965 many problems remain, particularly concerning the control of brain edema under acute conditions, as in trauma or ischemia. A quantum leap was the distinction of the cytotoxic and vasogenic brain edema prototypes as advanced by Igor Klatzo, providing for transition from a morphological to functional understanding now. The recent brain edema meetings were certainly benefiting from developments of both, molecular neurobiology on the one hand side and functional brain imaging at an ever-increasing resolution on the other, such as magnetic resonance imaging orpositron emission tomography. The international symposium in San Diego 1996 may witness further breakthroughs, hopefully also of effective treatment modalities. The symposium in Y okohama was dedicated to the "Legacy of 28 Years of Brain Edema Research" as a reminder of accomplishments as weIl as remaining challenges.

The articles in this volume cover the various options of the optimal management of brain tumors, vascular lesions, and functional disorders. They provide a good balance between microneurosurgery and radiosurgery, presenting also alternative surgical and radiosurgical treatment options with discussions on their advantages and disadvantages. The presentation of multiple treatment methods will help to provide better service to patients. Some papers, specifically highlighting alternative treatment options, are accompanied by editorials prepared by recognized experts in the field. Additional emphasis is put on importance of the advanced neuroimaging techniques for radiosurgical treatment planning and subsequent follow-up.

This volume focuses on the present state of biological research as well as the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system neoplasia. The section concerning 'Biology and Diagnosis' describes the aspect related to brain tumour classification and neuro-radiological diagnosis. Papers on oncogenes and growth factor expression are also included. The role of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as new therapeutic approaches, is described in the section on 'Therapy of Gliomas'. "Neuro-Oncology" presents an up-to-date review of research on biological studies and the treatment of meningiomas, neuronomas, craniopharingiomas, pinealomas, metastatic tumours, and cerebral tumours in children written by some of the most respected neurosurgeons in the world. The book is recommended not only to neurosurgeons and neurologists, but also to all researchers actively working in the field of neuro-oncology.