[Tumours of the pineal region: Part II: results of treatment in 23 patients (author's transl)].

The outcome of 23 patients with tumours in the pineal region was investigated following treatment with shunting, irradiation, extirpation or with a combination of these three procedures. The choice of therapy is difficult because in most cases the kind of tumour is unknown. The irradiation of radioresistant lesions however causes an unnecessary injury of the surrounding tissue whereas the trial of extirpation of a radiosensitive tumour exposes the patient to an unnecessary danger. After the results of therapy a method of treatment is proposed.