Keynote lecture -- ICP management in head injury -- Neurochemical monitoring and intracranial hypertension -- Neuroimaging -- Hydrocephalus -- Clinical trials -- Brain compliance -- Biophysics -- Experimental aspects -- Satellite symposium on neurochemical monitoring.88 short papers originating from the 12th International Symposium on Intracranial Pressure and Brain Monitoring held in August 2004 in Hong Kong present experimental as well as clinical research data on invasive and non-invasive intracranial pressure and brain biochemistry monitoring. The papers have undergone a peer-reviewing and are organized in nine sections: ICP management in head injury, neurochemical monitoring, intracranial hypertension, neuroimaging, hydrocephalus, clinical trails, experimental studies, brain compliance and biophysics.