TUMORS OF THE LIMBIC AND PARALIMBIC SYSTEM

240 patients with tumours of the limbic and paralimbic areas are presented. The following tumour growth patterns have been observed: - they remain isolated to areas within the allocortex; - they spread throughout allocortical regions; - they spread from allocortical to mesocortical zones. With the exeption of advanced malignant tumours there seems to be a tendency for tumours to spare the adjacent neocortical and medial structures. The tumours can be approached and extirpated using the trans-Sylvian approach and microneurosurgical technique. 56% have been histologically benign. 60% were below 40 years of age. Seizures were the leading manifestation (77%). In 95% the postoperative results were good. There was no peri-operative mortality.