Recent concepts in the conservative treatment of intracranial tumours in children.

The role of radiotherapy for certain intracranial tumours, given either postoperatively or as the sole treatment in inoperable cases, is discussed, principally in relation to medulloblastoma, ependymoma, cerebral astrocytoma, brain-stem glioma and craniopharyngioma. Methods of increasing the response of gliomas to irradiation are mentioned and reference is made to the possible value of chemotherapy and of immunotherapy as adjuvants against such tumours. Treatment results are reported and consideration given to the quality of long-term survival.