Abstract

A histopathological study on tumors of central nervous system among Koreans was made of one hundred twenty cases of surgical material, obtained during a period of 10 years, 1962-1971, at the Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, and followings are results; 1. Out of 89 cases, 45 male and 44 female, of intracranial tumors examined, 49 cases of them were benign and 40 malignant. Ages of the cases ranged from 6 months (retinoblastoma) to 65 years (primary intracranial sarcoma). 2. The highest incidence of histological type, out of intracranial tumors, was glioma (33.7%), even including astrocytoma (25.9%) in the high order of frequency in incidence. Average age incidences among the gliomas, were located in 24 years of low grade of astrocytoma, 26.1 years of glioblastoma multiforme and 28.3 years of ependymoma. And also encountered in most of them were no significant sex differences in their incidences, while in cases of glioblastoma multiforme male was more frequently affected with ratio of 8 : 3, than female. 3. Site distribution in various age groups showed anterior and middle fossas of intracranial cavity to be involved by 53 cases of intracranial tumors and 23 tumors in the posterior intracranial fossa, and the others 13 cases. Out of anterior and middle fossa tumors, incidences of histological type of tumors in 0-20 years age group were highest in astrocytomas and highest both 20-40 and over 40 years age groups in meningiomas. And out of posterior fossa tumors were highest incidences of 0-20 years age group both in meduloblastoma and astrocytoma and both 20-40 and over 40 years age groups in intracranial neurilemoma. 4. Out of 31 intraspinal tumors, incidence of histological type were high in neurilemoma (61%), thereafter astrocytoma (16%) and meningioma (13%), in orders of frequency. And out of them, site distribution showed thoracic portion to be involved 48%, in lumbar 19%, cervical 16%, sacral 10% and multiple levels 7%, respectively. 5. In this study on tumors of central nervous system, authors intended to observe retinoblastomas, pituitary tumors and even metastatic tumors, together with usual cerebro-spinal tumors. They were briefly discussed concerning with their onchogenesis in embryological aspect.