[Primary intracranial tumors as cause of death in the fetus and infant].

Clinical and pathomorphological findings in 2 stillborn and 15 lifeborn children with primary intracranial tumors are reported. All infants died within the first year of life and the tumors were confirmed histologically. In 6 children the tumors (3 intracranial teratomas, 1 glioblastoma, 1 hemangioblastoma, 1 choroid plexus papilloma) were present at birth. All 6 were born with pathologically enlarged heads. Another child exhibited symptoms of brain tumor at the age of three weeks. The tumor was probably present at birth as well. In the remaining infants the signs and symptoms of tumor development became evident some months after birth. These tumors might have occurred postnatally. In a girl aged 9 months, a nephroblastoma of the right kidney and a malignant cerebral tumor, probably a glioma, were present. An incidental coexistence of both tumors is considered, however, a common etiology cannot be excluded. 8 of the 17 intracranial tumors were supratentorially situated. This supports the view that the proportion of supratentorial tumors is higher in early life than in older children.