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Show Journal of Neuro- Ophthalmology 20( 3): 222- 223, 2000. © 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc., Philadelphia Book Reviews Cancer of the Nervous System, edited by Peter McL. Black and Jay S. Loeffler. Blackwell Science, Cambridge, MA, 1999. Type of book: This is a multi- authored textbook with over 100 contributing authors and 11 section editors. The editors contribute to 2 of the 47 chapters. The text is complete and is over 900 pages in length. It is well referenced, well indexed, and well illustrated. Scope of book: The book is designed to appeal to any practitioner caring for patients with cancer of the nervous system, and it has good appeal to the neuro- ophthalmic community. Contents: The text is divided into five sections: 1) basic principles of diagnosis and treatment; 2) benign tumors; 3) malignant brain tumors; 4) metastatic disease to the central nervous system; and 5) the basic science of tumors. The section on metastatic disease is only three chapters long, and so the text has a clear emphasis on primary central nervous system tumors. Strengths: Many chapters are authored by respected experts in their subspecialties. Additionally, the chapters cover a broad array of topics and admirably include the psychosocial issues often overlooked in texts that are so germane to the practitioner. The color plates in the center of the textbook are nicely done. The pathology slides are especially well done and illustrative. Schematic diagrams abound, charts and tables add value to each chapter, and references are added for each chapter. Weaknesses: Although comprehensive, the text is heavily weighted to primary brain tumors and gives less coverage of metastatic disease and of the peripheral nervous system. There could also be more depth regarding the systemic complications of brain tumors and their treatment. The chapter on chemotherapy should be expanded. As with any multi- authored text, chapter styles differ. There is a paucity of intraoperative gross pathology color plates, which would have added an additional dimension to the text. Finally, the type of paper chosen for the text does not lend itself well to the black and white imaging quality, and therefore some pictures lack clarity. Recommended audience: This text is best for practitioners who see patients with neuro- oncologic diseases; this includes ophthalmologists and neuro- ophthalmologists. It seems less likely to appeal to basic scientists, except as an overview of clinical neuroncology. It would serve as an excellent reference text for review of specific topics; the index is extensive and easily allows particular topics to be located. There are no specific chapters that deal with neuro- ophthalmologic malignancies. Critical appraisal: Overall, this is an impressive and Barrett Katz, MD, MBA comprehensive neuro- oncology textbook that would be useful as a reference text but is too dense for " cover- to-cover" reading. For a neuro- ophthalmologist, the comprehensive scope of the text leaves only a minor percentage of the text that is directly related to that subspecialty. Use of the text for specific neuro- ophthalmic topics necessitates repeated referral to the index with much bouncing between chapters. However, it would serve a very useful function for the neuro- ophthalmologist who wants to review specific tumors and their diagnosis and treatment. Richard Barbano, MD, PhD University of Rochester Rochester, New York Critical Decisions in Headache Management, by Rose Giammarco, John Edmeads, and David Dodick. B. C. Decker, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 1998. Type of book: In a practical manner, this basic textbook deals with management of various type of headaches. It is accompanied by a CD ROM. Scope of book: Almost all aspects of the subject of headache are covered at a basic level, including diagnosis and management of different types of headache and special issues affecting children, women, and the elderly. All of this is done in less than 200 pages. Contents: A standard and stylized approach to headache is taken throughout the book with regard to organization. There is a short but interesting historical review of headache management throughout the ages, followed by a concise and clear description of the pathophysiology of headache with illustrations. The history and physical examination chapter is also rather brief. The chapter regarding radiologic investigation of headache tends to emphasize computed tomography. There are several illustrations of magnetic resonance imaging, but there are almost no examples of lesions that tend to cause headache. The chapters on tension headache and migraine are very good. The chapter on cluster headache is excellent. Neuro- ophthalmologists may find it of interest because it emphasizes unilateral types of headache and facial pain, which may be seen by ophthalmologists. All chapters are punctuated by tables that outline " critical decisions." These are accompanied by decision trees. Of particular interest is a step- by- step guide for searching for additional information using Medline. A supplementary search strategy is provided at the end of 223 each chapter. A CD ROM of the text is provided with each book. Strengths: This book is quite readable, except for areas where the language is somewhat awkward. The treatment recommendations are clear. Overall, the book is well balanced. Most of the illustrations are helpful, and the decision trees are well constructed. The historical interest of the authors continues throughout the book. One memorable quote is from Osier ( 1892), who said, regarding posttraumatic headaches, " so long as litigation is pending and the patient is in the hands of lawyers, the symptoms usually persist. . ." Weaknesses: Occasional awkward use of language and jargon weaken the literary appeal of the text. A photograph apparently depicting papilledema may be misleading; either the papilledema is mild, or it may be pseudo-papilledema. Pseudotumor cerebri is mentioned in the text once, and the term idiopathic intracranial hypertension is listed without being defined. Another omission is a clear warning that blindness can be a complication of giant cell arteritis. The visual complications of this important cause of headache are mentioned almost parenthetically. Recommended audience: This book should serve as an excellent introduction to the subject of headache for medical students or beginning neurology residents. It is intended for primary care physicians, and, in this sense, the book reaches this goal. Critical appraisal: Neuro- ophthalmologists should consider review of this concise and relatively up- to- date book because it could be a source of ideas for teaching purposes. It is an excellent resource that neuro-ophthalmologists can recommend to ophthalmic colleagues, family practitioners, and medical students who wish to gain an overview of headache syndromes and their management. Thomas R. Hedges III, MD Tufts, New England Medical Center Boston, Massachusetts J Neuro- Ophthalmol, Vol. 20, No. 3, 2000 |