Neurogenic tumours: clinical and therapeutic aspects (author's transl)

Tumours of the nervous system are rare. Clinical and therapeutic aspects are discussed with relation to 54 cases. The benign tumours of the peripheric nerves such as neurinomas and neurofibromas, show a high rate of malignant degeneration. For this reason, every tumour of the soft tissues has to be removed and should be examined by the pathologist. In cases of retroperitoneal and intestinal localisation an early diagnosis is frequently impossible. For differential diagnosis laparotomy or thoracotomy are always indicated. X-ray examinations of the kidneys, the thorax as well as the intestines and mesenteric vessels show satisfactory results. The neurogenic sarcomas and neuroblastomas are discovered late because of their hidden localisation and poor symptoms. The poor prognosis has not been improved by cytostatsis and radiation.