The electroencephalogram in metastatic brain tumors

Abstract

The early diagnosis of metastatic brain tumor is of special importance in the orientation of surgical therapy, both as regards the primary tumor and the neurosurgical field, and sometimes is a very difficult problem. Therefore the search for new methods towards establishing the basis for an early diagnosis is of fundamental interest.In the present study it is attempted to answer the following propositions: The investigators state that the electroencephalographic test is of par ticular importance in the diagnosis of these tumors 16 > 21 > 39 . 14 . 12 . They also point out that a normal EEG in cases of brain metastasis is an exception. The EEG signs most frequently found were slow and high voltage delta waves > 17 . l21 > a 3 . :14 -12 . If the tumor is over 2 cm diameter it can be localized with appreciable precision 1,6 . 36 > 21 • ^3-1 . The location of the tumor is in itself also a factor in the topographic diagnosis, the frontal and temporal tumors being much more easily located than the parietoccipital ones 11 . The tumors of the posterior possa offer greater difficulty for correct localization. Multiple metastasis are also considered difficult to be recognized as such 36 > 21 > 1 -8 . So me authors emphasize the fact that the existence of abnormalities in the brain of a patient with carcinoma does not necessarily mean that he has a cerebral