Abstract
A peritumoral brain zone is an area between a tumor and nontumorous brain tissue with tumor cell infiltration. The identification of this area is sufficiently difficult due to the lack of clear morphological or some other criteria. Besides, its dimensions may vary considerably. In the present review, we have analyzed the available data on the morphological structure and metabolism of peritumoral zone in astrocytomes, and considered the main molecular and genetic aspects and clinical manifestations. Exploration of the peritumoral zone is of great importance for determining the extent of resection to prevent recurrence and to reveal the causes and mechanisms of continued tumor growth.