Classification of gliomas and medulloblastomas using the new TNM system for cerebral tumors.

In 1987 the UICC presented a proposal for TNM classification of brain tumors. This proposal is assessed in a retrospective study on 316 glioma and medulloblastoma patients treated in the Neurosurgical Clinic of the University Münster. It is evident that the T categories do not produce the correct sequence of prognostic differentiation required. The features of tumor spread used for classification are not of equal significance for the various types of tumors. In our opinion it is not possible to adequately describe the greatly varying development characteristics of all brain tumors using one system of classification.