The advances in valve technology, a careful opening pressure setting, and rigorous follow-up allow a significant reduction of complications, which can be usually managed nonsurgically within the first 3 to 6 mo.

No abstract

Three cases are reported of hydrocephalus associated with spinal tumours. In two cases symptoms and signs of raised intracranial pressure and their spinal tumours developed in co-existence, in the third case hydrocephalus and multiple cerebral metastases developed ten years after removal of a thoraco-lumbal ependymoma. Pathophysiological aspects of concerted action of this rare entity and consequences of misdiagnosis are discussed, and the relevant literature is reviewed.

A melanin producing encapsulated, intradural‐extramedullar tumour in the thoracic spinal cord was surgically removed from a 12 year old girl. The rumour histologically proved to be a melanocytoma and the patient was treated with radiation therapy. During 18 years of follow up she has been free of symptoms. The clinical and pathological features of the case and the literature are reviewed. The importance of differentiating this benign lesion from meningeal malignant pigmented tumours is emphasized.