Gangliogliomas, composed of nerve and glial cells, are rare tumors of the central nervous system. The clinical and radiological findings in five cases, along with a review of the literature, suggest that these are slow growing neoplasms which are better treated by surgery than by radiation. They occur throughout the neuraxis; an infratentorial location is more common than the early reports would suggest. The clinical picture and radiological findings are suggestive of a slow growing mass, but are not specific for the tumor type.