Hippocampal neuron densities in three areas (H1 zone, end folium, and dentate gyrus) were counted in each of 32 temporal lobectomy excision specimens using the technique of Mouritzen Dam. The association between severe neuronal loss in all three areas and early childhood convulsions that were prolonged and/or lateralized was highly significant. Lesser degrees of neuron loss in H1 and/or end folium were common and were not associated with early childhood convulsions, but were most often found in older patients with a particularly long history of epilepsy.

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SUMMARY Three cases of multiple sclerosis, all confirmed pathologically, are described in whom both the unusual clinical features and the CIT scan appearances suggested cerebral tumours. The failure of mass effect reliably to differentiate plaques and tumours on a CT scan is stressed and the literature relating to CT scanning in multiple sclerosis is reviewed."Cerebral" features, notably headache, epilepsy and aphasia are recognised but uncommon in multiple sclerosis and may suggest a diagnosis of cerebral tumour.' Computed tomography of the head (CT scan) in multiple sclerosis has demonstrated enhancing plaques which have been said to be distinguishable from tumours by their lack of mass effect.26 We present three cases of "cerebral multiple sclerosis" in whom cerebral tumours were suspected

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