BRAIN-TUMORS IN HO CHI MINH CITY

A series of 65 intracranial tumours operated on, and followed by, the same surgical team during 7 years is presented as a retrospective anal ysis (1987-1994). Among these patients, only 38 had a diagnosis based upon computed tomography (CT) scan because it was not until 1991 that the first CT scanner was set up in Ho Chi Minh City. Many patients wer e drowsy or comatose prior to operation due to lack of specialists' in tervention or tardy diagnosis and evacuation from remote provincial ho spitals. All operations were satisfactory despite the lack of many ess ential instruments. The histological diagnosis followed the classifica tion proposed by Zulch KJ.(1) Intratumoural calcification has in no ca se been seen on X-rays or on histological specimens. Operative mortali ty rate was nit. Although not all the patients with malignant tumours could be followed up, the data available concerning their survival tim e and the quality of life seems similar to that observed in other repo rts.