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Show Journal of Clinical Neuro- ophtlwlmology 10( 1): 73- 75, 1990. Book Reviews Compressive Optic Nerve Lesions at the Optic Canal. By Renate Unsold, M. D., and Wolfgang Seeger, M. D., ( Berlin: Springer- Verlag) 1989, 138 pp, $ 149. Intracranial compressive optic neuropathy, at the opening of the optic canal, can be a challenging clinical and radiologic diagnosis at best. Drs. Unsold and Seeger provide a very nicely illustrated text describing their experience with optic neuropathy secondary to compressive meningiomas and dolichoectasia of the carotid artery, as well as optic canal compression from pneumosinus dilatans of the sphenoid bone. There are 10 chapters, the first of which is a very nice anatomical review of the anterior visual pathways with cadaver dissection. There are several chapters concerning the clinical manifestation in patients who have compressive optic neuropathy, including differential diagnosis and physical findings. Perhaps the greatest emphasis of this text, as well as the majority of the case presentations, is spent on the recognition of dolichoectasia of the internal carotid artery with its encroachment on the optic nerve in the opening of the intracranial portion of the optic canal. The possible influence that penumosinus dilatans has on the further luxury compression of the internal carotid artery on the optic nerve is also emphasized. Most of the case reports have beautiful computed tomography scan images outling in detail the exact location of the optic nerve compression by either the narrowed optic canal or the internal carotid artery. There is a very nice discussion of the neurosurgical approach to decompression of the intracranial portion of the optic canal by Dr. H. R. Eggert. Photographic evidence of compression of the optic nerve by the superior dural fold, as the optic nerve enters the cranial vault, is quite impressive. Drs. Unsold and Seeger have reemphasized an often forgotten pathological process that certainly causes optic nerve compression, albeit somewhat uncommonly. The practicing neuro- ophthalmologist cannot help but be more attuned to this pro- 73 © 1990 Raven Press, Ltd., New York cess, as well as have his neuroradiologic diagnostic skills improved from reading this text. Bradley K. Farris, M. D. Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology University of Oklahoma College of Medicine Dean A. McGee Eye Institute Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Neuro- Ophthalmology Enters the Nineties, edited by J. Lawton Smith and Raananah S. Katz, Hialeah, FL: Dutton Press, 1988, 469 pp, $ 34.95. It is quite frustrating, indeed, to expect an updated and " fresh" approach to all of the various aspects of the field of neuro- ophthalmology today. Drs. Smith and Katz have fortunately provided us with an excellent weapon with which to attack these complexities! They have managed to accumulate an excellent cross- section of the leading neuro- ophthalmologists, neurologists, and internists in the country, to provide us with an excellent review and update of many problem areas in neuro- ophthalmology. It would be difficult to list each specific chapter with its topic and author, as there are a total of 37 chapters. Good review articles include blepharospasm, as well as its treatment, congenital nystagmus and its associated visual problems, opsoclonus, as well as other forms of nystagmus, including see- saw nystagmus. There are also nice updates on ocular myasthenia, as well as the ophthalmic manifestations of neurofibromatosis. Intraocular and intracranial infectious diseases are reviewed nicely, including the Lyme/ AIDS/ syphilis chapter by Dr. Smith, as well as review of fungal infections in the brain by Dr. Joseph c. Parker et al. Various causes of papilledema, including papillophlebitis, papilledema from arteriovenous malformation, pseudotumor cerebri, intracranial tu- |