Dissemination of tumors of the central nervous system on computed tomography

We analyzed on CT and by patholagy the incidence and patterns of dissemination of tumors in the central nervous system. Of 342 cases the incidence was 6 %. The dissemination was classified into 4 types; basal cistern, cerebral convexity, ventricle and a combination of all. Ependymoma was the most frequently disseminated, and medulloblastoma and germinoma were next in occurrence. As yet, results of treatment in such cases remain dismal. How many layers of tumor cells can be detected on CT is still undetermined. (author)