Gliomatosis cerebri--an appropriate diagnosis? Case reports.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the premises for the diagnosis gliomatosis cerebri in relation to diffuse astrocytomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CT, MR images and pathological analyses were used to assess the cases of 4 patients with diffusely infiltrating astrocytic tumours that radiologically, clinically and pathologically resembled gliomatosis cerebri. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Some astrocytomas have an immense potential for diffuse infiltration and they would seem to be more frequent than recognized hitherto. The definition of gliomatosis cerebri as a separate entity is questionable, and a diagnosis of diffusely infiltrating astrocytoma is recommended in such cases