A distinctive glial tumour in an 8-month-old child characterized by superficial location, attachment to the dura, desmoplasia and histological malignancy is described. The tumour differed from "desmoplastic cerebral astrocytoma of infancy" and "desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma" by virtue of the presence of frequent mitoses and necrosis and lack of basal lamina. We have termed this tumour a "desmoplastic cerebral glioblastoma of infancy". The differential diagnosis and the origin of the desmoplasia are discussed.