The authors report their experience with the use of epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) in the preoperative management of a series of patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. A similar series of patients was taken as control. They found that EACA is of definite value in preventing recurrent hemorrhage in the preoperative period. The significance of antifibrinolytic therapy in ruptured intracranial aneurysms is discussed.

A series of 36 children under the age of 13 with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) was retrospectively reviewed. It is shown that haemorrhage is by far the commonest initial manifestation of the lesion, followed by seizures. Of the 14 children who have seizures, 10 suffered from haemorrhage within an observation period of 3 months to 7 years. Analysis of the results of the various forms of treatment indicates that total surgical extirpation provides the best safeguard against future haemorrhage. It is suggested that all cerebral AVM in children should be excised whenever possible.

A case of primary multiple germinomas occurring in the corpus callosum and thalamus with excellent outcome following biopsy and irradiation is reported. The pathogenesis of intracranial germinoma is briefly discussed.