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Show Section Editor: Steven A. Newman, MD Neuro-Ophthalmology Illustrated Valerie Biousse, MD and Nancy J. Newman, MD. New York, Thieme, 2009. ISBN 978-1-60406-156-7, $89.95. Scope: This is a 600-page soft cover training manual that covers every important topic in neuro-ophthalmology. There are no references. As the authors declare in the preface, it is intended as an introduction to neuro-ophthalmology for medical students and physicians in training in ophthalmology, neurology, and neurosurgery. The material is organized in a fashion that has become standard for books of this nature. Techniques of examination come first, followed by chapters on persistent and transient visual loss, retinal and optic nerve diseases, retrogeniculate disorders, pupils, diplopia, eyelid, orbital, and cavernous sinus diseases, ocular oscillations, headache and facial pain, and nonorganic manifestations. The text is amplified with flowcharts, boxes that succinctly highlight "take-home" points (called "pearls"), decision trees, lists of differential diagnoses, and hundreds of illustrations, in-cluding anatomic drawings from Thieme atlases, external ocular photographs, fundus photographs, CT scans, magnetic resonance scans, and cerebral angiograms. Strengths: The text is tightly and cogently written. The illustrations are first-rate. The explanations are simple enough so that a newcomer can quickly catch on, yet ample enough for an experienced reader to capture a deeper understanding of how these things work and how to teach them. Weaknesses: There aren't any. One could object that there are no references to back up the material, but training manuals do not need them. Besides, the authors adhere to accepted wisdom in the field without making controversial points. I wonder if the soft binding will hold up with repeated use, which this book will certainly get. Recommended Audience: This book will work best as a training manual, as the authors suggest. But it would also suit practitioners of all clinical neurologic specialties who are looking for an elegant rendition of the subject matter supported by beautiful illustrations. Critical Appraisal: This is the best soft cover training manual in neuro-ophthalmology that I have read. Its excellence is no surprise, for the authors are renowned for their clinical wizardry. The amalgamation of so much good information with such good pictures under one cover is a triumph. Novices will learn pleasurably from the succinct text and apt illustrations. The cognoscenti will marvel at how masterfully this book has been put together. Jonathan D. Trobe, MD Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Manual of Neuro-Ophthalmology Amar Agarwal, MD and Athiya Agarwal, MD. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, New Delhi, India, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-07-163231-7, $64.95. Scope: This is a 257-page multiauthored book that covers the fundamentals of neuro-ophthalmology. Bearing in mind that neuro-ophthalmology is a complex subspecialty that is not easily understood by many, this book has been written to address the subject in a simple and concise manner. With contributions from several authors, Amar Agarwal and Athiya Agarwal have accomplished the task of providing a fairly comprehensive overview of neuro-ophthalmology. They have taken enormous effort to make the subject accessible to the reader. The book is divided into 19 chapters, each dealing with a specific topic in neuro-ophthalmology. Each chapter has plenty of colorful schematic diagrams and tables. A few clinical photographs have been added. Salient features of relevant neuro-ophthalmology diseases and pathways have been covered in each chapter. The first 2 chapters deal with supranuclear pathways and supranuclear eye movement disorders. These chapters highlight the fundamentals of the complex supranuclear pathways. The subsequent chapters deal with common topics in neuro-ophthalmology such as nystag-mus, congenital optic nerve anomalies, and ocular myopathies. An entire chapter is dedicated to imaging in neuro-ophthalmology. This chapter covers the basics of neurora-diology in a concise manner. As cited in the foreword the book can serve as a quick reference guide for a wide spectrum of readers such as medical students, ophthalmology and neurology residents, and practicing ophthalmologists. Strengths: The authors have taken great care in presenting the topics in a simple and easily understood style; yet com-plicated pathways and diseases have also been well covered. This presentation allows medical students and residents to do self-directed learning of neuro-ophthalmology. The book has only 257 pages, and most of the chapters are short, thus allowing one to read the book in a fairly short period of time. Weakness: The organization of the chapters is bizarre. They are not arranged in the order of the afferent or efferent system. In addition, there are glaring typographical errors that could have been avoided with careful review of the text. The style of presentation adopted by each author seems to be different. Hence, there is lack of uniformity in the book. Although the illustrations and figures appear simplified, in reality they are complex and often do not clearly convey the message. The references are also very limited in most chapters. The authors have mainly used their own textbook of ophthalmology as a reference and have omitted some impor-tant topics such as nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy. 104 Book Reviews: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2010; 30: 104-111 Book Reviews Recommended Audience: This book would serve as a good introductory text for medical students as well as ophthal-mology and neurology residents. Post-residency physicians preparing for recertification courses could use this book for quick review. Practicing ophthalmologists and neurologists who do not see neuro-ophthalmology patients on an everyday basis may also find this book useful. Critical Appraisal: The authors have been successful in accomplishing their goal of simplifying the subject matter. Because the book is short and focused, it will attract many student readers. It may also serve as a valuable adjunct to a comprehensive textbook of neuro-ophthalmology. Padmaja Sudhakar, MD Kellogg Eye Center Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Neuro-Ophthalmology Problem Solving: A Practical and User-Friendly Guide Jesse Halpern, MD, Steven B. Flynn, MD, PhD, and Scott Forman, MD. Plural Publishing, San Diego, CA, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-59756-085-6, $98.00. Scope: This manual is one in a series of small volumes that attempt to simplify the approach to the neuro-ophthalmology patient. It is divided into 11 chapters and 8 appendices tailored toward an approach to common and less common neuro-ophthalmic problems. Afferent system dysfunction is included in 3 chapters (visual field interpretation, optic nerve disease, and un-explained visual loss) and there is a chapter on optic disc edema. Ocular motility is addressed in 4 chapters (ocular motility basic concepts, neurologicmotility patterns, perform-ing the ocular motility examination, and case studies). There are also chapters on nystagmus, saccadic intrusions, ocular bobbing, and pupillary problems and appendices on covert retinal diseases and optic disc anomalies. Strengths: The text is strong in that it has bypassed the rare and less important conditions more appropriate for a comprehensive text. There are many good videos. Weaknesses: In some cases, the video quality is suboptimal. Recommended Audience: Although the authors have directed this text mainly toward ophthalmologists and neurologist in training, it should serve well even for experienced clinicians. Critical Appraisal: This is a useful pocket-sized volume with helpful videos. It will be even better when the videos are brought to a uniformly high quality in future editions. Steven A. Newman, MD Department of Ophthalmology University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Using Eye Movements as an Experimental Probe of Brain Function. A Symposium in Honor of Jean Bu¨ttner-Ennever (Volume 171, Progress in Brain Research) Christopher Kennard PhD, FRCP, FMedSci and R. John Leigh MD, Editors. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-444-53163-6, $250.00. Scope: This multiauthored compendium was collected from an international symposium held in December 2007 to honor Dr. Jean Bu¨ttner-Ennever, a revered figure in the science of eye movement. It contains 87 chapters written by a who's who of ocular motility research. The investigations that are covered here reflect an interesting blend of experimental animal work with normal and abnormal human studies. The text is organized into 6 sections with an average of about 15 entries per section. Section 1 covers work on eye muscle physiology, touching particularly on the role of afferent proprioceptive signals and mechanisms of adaptation to cranial nerve palsy. There is a very accessible overview of the anatomy of the brainstem ocular motor network by the honoree, Dr. Bu¨ttner-Ennever. Sections 2 and 3 discuss ocular motor control within the brainstem and cerebellum. Topics include modeling of saccadic oscillations and oculopalatal tremor and new insights into abnormal eye movements in patients with cerebellar dysfunction. Section 4 is concerned with the physiology of eye movement systems as they relate to balance and gait. Section 5 addresses the fascinating insights gleaned from investigations into attention, in-tention, and memory as they relate to ocular motor control. Finally, and of perhaps the greatest interest to neuro-ophthalmologists, Section 6 covers a range of topics on abnormal eye movements. There are entries on clinical application of head-impulse vestibular testing (Halmagyi et al), experimental control of motion sickness with baclofen (Cohen et al) and treatment of vertical nystagmus with aminopyridines (Glasauer and Ro¨ssert, Strupp et al). Strengths: The volume offers a variety of basic science work on animal (mainly primate) physiology and anatomy and studies of normal and disordered eye movements in humans. Each chapter is succinct and well-written by authorities in the field. The depth and breadth of topic coverage is well chosen to reflect recent research activity in the field. Weaknesses: This is not intended to be a comprehensive clinical text such as Leigh and Zee's venerable tome, The Neurology of Eye Movements, 4th edition (Oxford, 2006) and the content is heavier on cutting edge science than on information regarding the diagnosis and treatment of eye movement conditions. Recommended Audience: This volume is indispensable for ocular motor enthusiasts, but there is much to entertain the curious clinician whether one's primary training is in neurology, ophthalmology, or otolaryngology. Book Reviews Book Reviews: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2010; 30: 104-111 105 Critical Appraisal: This book is a must read for any-one interested in the state of the art in eye movement research and for those who would like a peek at the direction of treatments for some of the most vexing clinical problems. Mark Morrow, MD Department of Neurology Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Torrance, California The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Illustrated Manual of Ophthalmology, 3rd Edition Neil J. Friedman, MD, Peter K. Kaiser, MD, and Roberto Pineda II, MD. Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2009. ISBN: 978-1-4377-0908-7, $79.95. Scope: A pocket atlas with treatment guidelines, this volume is aimed to emergency physicians, family physi-cians, and internists. It is also suitable for medical students and ophthalmology residents. Using a standard template for all disorders, including definition, signs, symptoms, differential diagnosis, epidemiology, and management, the authors manages to cover nearly all significant diseases with adequate detail. Strengths: The book is laid out in a visually pleasing manner, with emergencies outlined in red and management strategies outlined in the color that corresponds to that chapter. Each subtopic header is color-coded, making topics easy to find. There are excellent color photographs, many with helpful highlighting arrows. Basic diagnostic and treatment algorithms are easy to follow. This edition has been updated with additional photo-graphs, and all previous black and white photos were converted to color. The authors have added essential information about new technologies, including optical coherence tomography (OCT). There is an excellent appendix, which includes basic examination techniques and guidance on how to use fundamental equipment such as the Goldmann applanation tonometer, prisms, and cross-cover testing. The appendix includes common drug dosages, eponyms, and even basic differential diagnosis of common complaints, thereby combining the attributes of standard pocket manuals such as the Wills Eye Manual (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008) and Basic Ophthalmology (American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2004). Weaknesses: The size of the photographs is limited by the size of the book; many are too small to make this a first-class atlas. Advanced topics are brushed over, for example, the section on exudative age-related macular short changes the newer anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents. The differential diagnosis sections are weak compared with those of the Wills Eye Manual. Recommended Audience: This book will most useful to non-ophthalmic physicians and trainees but would not be out of place on an ophthalmologist's shelf. Critical Appraisal: This edition is an improvement over the previous one, containing better pictures, more topics, and updated management and treatment strategies. Its simplic-ity makes it less than ideal for an ophthalmologist who may, however, find it useful as a companion to the Wills Eye Manual. Eric D. Weber, MD University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington, DC Ocular Pathology, 6th Edition Myron Yanoff, MD and Joseph W. Sassani, MD. Mosby Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-323-04232-1, $339.00. Scope: This is a scholarly and comprehensive multi-authored ocular pathology textbook (and DVD-ROM) that has stood the test of time through 5 prior editions. It describes in detail, with great color illustrations, a wide vari-ety of ocular pathology aspects ranging from basic eye pathology principles to rare congenital and neoplastic ocular and orbital processes. It is of great value to all personnel involved in the ophthalmic field. Strengths: The beauty of the book is that it contains extensive information yet in a concise fashion. The bulleted structure of the text allows for easy reference. This, in addition to the detailed illustrations, makes the book not only a textbook but also an atlas. The text is very easy to read and straight to the point. Although the literature is not extensively reviewed for each topic, the critical references are listed. Moreover, the reference list of each chapter is organized into groupings of specific topic headings that also allows for efficient referencing. Weaknesses: It is difficult to find weaknesses in this book because most of its shortcomings have favorable aspects. For example, the bulleted nature of the text makes it more of an atlas than a textbook; however, as noted above, this allows for easier reference and concise information. In most instances, especially in the hands of residents and fellows, this is desirable. The same applies for the nonextensive yet very organized and efficient nature of the reference lists. However, some readers may view the lack of extensive literature review and discussions as deficiencies. Recommended Audience: Without any doubt, this textbook and atlas will be of great value to all individuals involved in the field of ophthalmology, especially ophthalmic pathology. It is of particular value to those in ophthalmology residency and fellowship training Book Reviews 106 Book Reviews: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2010; 30: 104-111 programs and medical students. The value of this book may even be greater than initially appreciated when one considers how few eye pathologists there are and how difficult it is to teach eye pathology in most academic institutions these days. Critical Appraisal: Because this book (and DVD-ROM) addresses major aspects of eyelid, lacrimal, orbital, and ocular pathology, all ophthalmologists, ranging from general practitioners to subspecialists, and all those involved in ophthalmic education will be favorably affected by this book. Teaching eye pathology has never been more difficult times than this time. This book certainly helps alleviate this problem. Nicola Ghazi, MD Department of Ophthalmology University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia The Human Brain. An Introduction to Its Functional Anatomy, 6th Edition John Nolte, PhD. Mosby Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-323-04131-7, $70.95. The Human Brain in Photographs and Diagrams, 3rd Edition John Nolte, PhD and Jay B. Angevine Jr., PhD. Mosby Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-323-04573-5, $60.95. Elsevier's Integrated Neuroscience John Nolte, PhD. Mosby Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2007 ISBN: 978-0-323-03409-8, $39.95. Essentials of the Human Brain John Nolte, PhD. Mosby Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-323-04570-4, $39.95. Scope: Although each of these 4 books is a ‘‘stand-alone'' text, they complement one another in making up a "teaching system" aimed at students of the health sciences, especially medical students. The system was developed by a single phenomenally talented and veteran teacher, John Nolte, PhD, professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University of Arizona. All 4 are oversized books in soft cover. The Human Brain. An Introduction to Its Functional Anatomy, now in its 6th edition, is the centerpiece, a 700- page text that melds anatomy and physiology. The Human Brain in Photographs and Diagrams, now in its 3rd edition, is a 250-page atlas that supports the centerpiece. Elsevier's Integrated Neuroscience is a 250-page text of neurophysiol-ogy laden with schematic illustrations that is part of the giant medical publisher Elsevier's series of books on basic science topics related to medicine. At 240 pages, Essentials of the Human Brain is the latest addition to the system, a distillate of the other 4 texts. CD-ROMs and online versions are now available. Strengths: These books are brilliantly written and illustrated in the service of teaching. Concepts I never understood suddenly emerge as graspable. Nolte has had a lot of practice teaching this material-and it shows. The prose is succinct and clear. The schematic diagrams and stained anatomic specimens have been carefully selected to support the text and are always in the service of understanding normal and diseased function. In the latest editions, the author does not pad for the sake of producing a new product. Weaknesses: Most physicians will not make the time commitment to read this material. Recommended Audience: This system has had its greatest use in medical schools, but it should also serve as an excellent starting point for graduate students in neurosci-ence. Essentials of the Human Brain is the volume most approachable for ophthalmologists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons in their quest for understanding this subject matter. Each of the 4 books could also serve as a source of illustrations in teaching medical students, other physicians, and ancillary health care personnel. Critical Appraisal: There are many textbooks on these topics, but none so exquisitely written and illustrated for learning and teaching. Nolte is the master. He excites you with that "aha moment" as you discover the secrets of nervous system function. Even though he is not a physician, he has somehow figured out what insights matter most to physicians. If you don't have the fortitude to tackle the text, you could at least scrutinize the illustrations. Jonathan D. Trobe, MD Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Atlas of Brain Function, 2nd ed. William W. Orrison, Jr., MD, MBA. Thieme Medical Publishers, New York, NY, 2008. ISBN 978-1-58890-525-3, $79.95. Scope: This is an atlas intended as a guide to the structural and functional relationships of the human brain. The goal is to provide detailed anatomic information using MRI combined with labeled schematic diagrams and correlate the anatomic location with current understanding regarding function. Although the title specifically mentions brain function, there is little to no information regarding functional MRI or pathology. The book is divided into sections covering 2-dimensional sagittal, axial, and coronal views and 3-dimensional images. There is a final section dealing with diffusion tensor and fiber tract imaging. Each section (except the Book Reviews Book Reviews: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2010; 30: 104-111 107 diffusion tensor portion) locates and describes each brain structure in terms of a given function. Several hundred magnetic resonance scans and anatomic drawings are provided. This edition features fairly detailed discussions of function given the space limitations and also includes illustrations of diffusion tensor imaging and fiber track imaging. Because multiple views are shown, there is necessarily a great deal of repetition, particularly with the functional discussions, which are often copied verbatim from section to section. A well-detailed index provides references to particular structures and relevant figures. Although no specific references are given for the functional and anatomic data, there is an extensive bibliography included toward the end of the book. Strengths: The use of MRI instead of gross pathology is much more practical to students at all levels of training, and the author has elegantly selected images that highlight certain structures. The correlation between MRI image and schematic diagram is usually very good. The resolution of detail for most images is outstanding. The discussions of functional correlates are good but necessarily limited. Weaknesses: For some sections, there is a noticeable mis-match between the magnetic resonance images and the labeled diagrams. The discussion of function is superficial in many sections. The inclusion of diffusion tensor imaging seems somewhat arbitrary and may not be of much practical use to the clinician. The demonstrated pulse sequences are also somewhat arbitrary and without clear consistency or rationale. Recommended Audience: Health care providers who order neuroimaging and review the studies will find this book useful. Neuro-ophthalmologists, neurosurgeons, and neurol-ogists and particularly resident physicians would find this book a helpful adjunct to standard neuroradiology textbooks. Critical Appraisal: This book is highly recommended as a reference source. Gregory P. Van Stavern, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, Missouri Atlas of Interventional Neurology AdnanI.Qureshi,MD,andAlexandrosL,Georgiadis,MD. Demos Medical Publishing, LLC, New York, NY, 2008. ISBN 978-1-933864-31-0, $169.00. Scope: This book provides a detailed, step-by-step approach to procedures performed in the practice of interventional neurology, neurosurgery, and neuroradiology. It contains 150 case illustrations. Strengths: Explaining how interventional neurology is conducted is hard to do with words alone. But this atlas provides all the tools for those who want to understand what happens. Each of the 150 cases illustrates a specific procedure. As many as 10 black and white and color illustrations are provided for each condition to explain the details of the procedure. Weaknesses: Because each case is condensed into 1 page and because this book is an atlas, there is very little room for details regarding the indications for each procedure. Moreover, it does not really deal with the issue of whether the procedure should be performed instead of surgery or observation alone. The numerous trials designed to answer that question are not covered. Recommended Audience: This atlas is perfect for physicians who look after patients who undergo interven-tional neurologic procedures. Critical Appraisal: This excellent atlas is published by one of the leaders in the field of interventional neurology. It is beautifully illustrated and the case-study format makes it easy to read cover-to-cover. The field of interventional neurology is changing very quickly, and this atlas will probably need many revisions over the next few years. It should help non-interventionists understand how most procedures are performed, thereby providing the back-ground necessary to analyze the numerous studies published on this topic and to follow and educate patients. Vale´rie Biousse, MD Emory Eye Center Emory University Atlanta, Georgia Dizziness: A Practical Approach to Diagnosis and Management Adolfo M. Bronstein, MD and Thomas Lempert, MD, PhD. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0-521-83791-0, $84.00. Scope: This is a 221-page practical book on the assessment and treatment of the dizzy patient. There are 8 chapters written by 2 authors. The book is organized by patient presentation. There are 3 additional chapters covering anatomy, examination of the patient with vertigo, and the treatment of the dizzy patient. Each chapter begins with a table listing the differential diagnosis. At the end of each chapter is a section entitled ‘‘what to do if you don't have a clue''? There are 54 tables and several figures. Included is a CD-ROM with 45 video clips of the most common eye movement disorders found in patients with dizziness and video clips from individuals with normal eye movements. There are videos of how to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and vestibular hypofunction. Strengths: The strength of this book is its organization around patient clinical manifestations. The table of Book Reviews 108 Book Reviews: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2010; 30: 104-111 differential diagnoses at the beginning of each chapter make it very practical. Weaknesses: The book is weighted toward inner ear disorders and vertigo. Imbalance is discussed to a limited degree. Fear of falling, perhaps the most common cause of imbalance seen in a dizzy clinic, is discussed in 1 paragraph. Some of the figures are not reproduced well or confusing, but these problems are minor. Recommended Audience: This book should appeal to a wide variety of medical specialists and physicians-in-training who examine patients with dizziness. It will also be appropriate for physical therapists and audiologists. Critical Appraisal: This is a very practical book that should be placed in the clinic or emergency room near where patients with dizziness are examined and treated. It will appeal most to physicians and allied health personnel who are relatively inexperienced in the field. Ronald J. Tusa, MD, PhD Department of Neurology Emory University Atlanta, Georgia Stroke in Children and Young Adults, 2nd Edition Jose Biller, MD, Editor. Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia PA, 2009. ISBN-13:978-0-7506-7418-8, $125.00. Scope: This is the 2nd edition of a multiauthored volume consisting of 17 chapters covering the diagnosis and management of stroke in children and young adults. The intended audience is clinicians caring for children and young adults with ischemic and hemorrhagic cerebrovas-cular disease. The book begins with an overview chapter on the epidemiology, risk factors, and prognosis of stroke in these patients. Chapter 2, written by the late Dr. William DeMyer, is a compendium of the vascular anatomy of the brain and the clinical and radiologic features of a wide variety of stroke syndromes. Chapter 3 is a brief overview of stroke in neonates and children. The remaining 14 chapters cover the diagnosis and management of the major cerebrovascular disorders affecting infants and children, including chapters on cardiac disorders, migraine, coagulopathies, genetic disorders, pregnancy, and venous thrombosis, among others. Strengths: The major strengths of the book are its state-of-the- art coverage of current diagnostic techniques, thera-peutic recommendations, and current understanding of pathophysiology. References are current, and illustrations and tables are excellent. Most chapters contain a well-written, "stand-alone" review. References are quite current. Treatment of controversial areas is, in general, well-balanced. Illustrations are well-chosen and explanatory material is often presented in helpful tables. Weaknesses: Themajor weakness of the book, from the point of view of a neuro-ophthalmologist caring for children, is the lack of detailed coverage of the visual aspects of cerebrovascular disease in children, especially neonates and premature infants. Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is now the most common cause of bilateral visual loss in children in developed countries. This is due to the increased survival of premature infants with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and secondarily to increased survival of full-term infants with various forms of ischemic encephalop-athy. Clinicians caring for these children are often not aware of the serious visual consequences of PVL and other forms of neonatal cerebrovascular disease, including defects in visual acuity and more subtle defects of higher order visual cognitive function. These serious visual consequences should receive more detailed treatment in the text. Recommended Audience: Clinicians in all specialties who deal with children and young adults with cerebrovascular disease will find that this book contains current and informative discussions. Neurologists, neurosurgeons, and neuro-ophthalmologists interested in a detailed exposition of the visual signs and symptoms of various cerebrovascular disorders will have to look elsewhere. Critical Appraisal: This volume provides an updated review of current diagnostic and therapeutic concepts. However, the text does not provide detailed information about the visual signs and symptoms of these disorders. Clinicians interested in the visual consequences of cerebrovascular disease in children will need to look elsewhere for this information. Joel Weinstein, MD Department of Ophthalmology Penn State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Hershey, Pennsylvania Neurology of the Newborn, 5th Edition Joseph J. Volpe, MD. Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-4160-3995-2, $159.00. Scope: Few scholars have the time or aptitude to produce comprehensive medical textbooks by themselves. In the 5th edition of his seminal work, the author has enhanced his masterpiece, incorporating scientific and technologic breakthroughs into a unified hypothesis of brain develop-ment and pathology. The book begins with 2 chapters on the anatomical and functional development of the brain, exquisitely incorpo-rating the latest imaging techniques and developmental genetics. Enlightenment comes from the pathologic examples of developmental breakdown. The author interjects these examples into a unifying model of brain development but readily admits the level of confidence with Book Reviews Book Reviews: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2010; 30: 104-111 109 which certain diseases fit the model. Even with an imperfect model, the hypothetical framework is a great guide for clinical thinking. Following 2 good chapters on examination and testing of the newborn, the book is broken into traditional sections dealing with categories of pathology (hypoxic-ischemic, metabolic, infectious, and iatrogenic). Each of these chapters harkens to the developmental model of the brain, emphasizing the timing and location of injury in deter-mining clinical manifestations. A section on neuromuscular disorders appropriately begins with a separate chapter on motor anatomy and physiology to provide a comprehensive scaffold. Strengths: As with any quality medical textbook, the reader can selectively find the description of important clinical manifestations and treatments for specific diseases. On the other hand, this book bids one to read on, or back, to get the full story. Where does this disease fit with others on the developmental timeline? Why does it manifest differently from another disease caused by a similar insult? Weaknesses: The tables summarizing key points, found on nearly every page, sometimes seem superfluous. On the other hand, they are quick references for those who have read the section. Recommended Audience: The principal users will be neurologists and neonatologists. Critical Appraisal: With more than 1000 pages, this book is densely packed with current information. The bibliog-raphy is contemporary and comprehensive, making the book an excellent reference source. Mark Borchert, MD The Vision Center at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles USC/Keck School of Medicine Los Angeles, California Multimodal Imaging in Neurology: Special Focus on MRI Applications and MEG Hans-Peter Mu¨ller and Jan Kassubek, MD. Morgan & Claypool Publishers, San Rafael, CA, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-59829-550-4, $40.00. Scope: Noninvasive functional neuroimaging as provided by magnetoelectroencephalography (MEG), MRI, func-tional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a rapidly evolving field. Resources are few to bridge the gaps in knowledge among the diverse professions involved in their creation and validation. Accordingly, engineers, software authors, neuroradiologists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons bring a wide range of non-overlapping experiences to this burgeoning field. In this work, the authors provide a review of multimodal imaging and its applications to neurology. Their goal is to present the background and methods of 2 aspects of multimodal imaging to engineers and physicians: 1) intermodal multimodality, the co-registration of diverse neuroimaging and electrophysiologic techniques, and 2) intramodal multimodality, the co-registration within a neuroimaging technique to develop norms and profiling of disease states in comparison to norms. Strengths: The book's strengths are its concise presentation and its organized approach to the basic mathematical underpinnings of magnetic resonance and magnetoencepha-lography and the first steps in image post-processing. A section on coordinate transformation outlines the techniques of co-registration with the use of fiducial markers and statistical techniques. Application of intermodal co-registration is provided by the authors use of MRI, MEG, and fMRI in brain mapping. Intramodal co-registration is illustrated with the use of DTI in the evaluation of morphology of tracts within the corpus callosum. In these aspects, the review is a handy resource for the technical professions. Weaknesses: The relative lack of graphics to illustrate mathematical concepts will hamper some clinicians. Images are shown in gray scale rather than in color, a disappoint-ment because much multimodal neuroimaging information is based on the prudent use of color. The authors may have intended to use color, as several captions refer to ‘‘the red dot'' or ‘‘yellow/red'' mapping. The English is not always clear, perhaps because the text is translated from German. Recommended Audience: This book will prove useful as a guide mostly to engineers. Critical Appraisal: As fine a review of the theory and potential medical applications of multimodal neuroimaging as this book provides, it will probably not appeal to physicians because of its technical nature and limited clinical correlations. Mark Quigg, MD, MS Department of Neurology University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Exploring the Thalamus and Its Role in Cortical Function, 2nd Edition S. Murray Sherman, PhD, and R. W. Guillery, PhD. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 2006. ISBN: 978-0-26219-532-4, $65.00. Scope: An excellent introduction and overview of thalamic anatomy, physiology, and function, this edition is a revision of a book that appeared in 2001. In addition to updating the scientific material, the authors have changed the emphasis from a corticocentric view to an acknowledgment that subcortical structures are not passive way stations, but that they play a significant role in brain function. The authors are 2 leading figures in the study of the intrinsic characteristics and functional role of the thalamus. Book Reviews 110 Book Reviews: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2010; 30: 104-111 Their emphasis has long been on the visual system, and the book reflects this bias. Even so, key points of thalamic function can be generalized from the visual system. There are 11 chapters that cover the expanse of thalamic neurobiology from basic anatomy to higher level regional interactions, including the many different cell types. There is an excellent section on the intrinsic properties that are common to the physiology of many types of neurons throughout the brain as well as those properties that are unique to thalamic neurons. The book then steps up a functional level to examine how thalamic activity can be modulated from cortical as well as subcortical inputs. The authors then integrate the material to create a functional unit that includes the thalamus and the cortex. Strengths: For many of us the thalamus has been an unin-teresting and amorphous mass of gray matter interposed between the spinal cord and the cortex. The authors skillfully disabuse us of that notion. They demonstrate in clear fashion and in multiple ways that this collection of neurons has a far more important role in regulating the information that passes back and forth and that it is not just the cortex that matters. Weaknesses: The book could have had more figures to illustrate key points more clearly. Recommended Audience: This book provides an excel-lent and useful resource for those who wish to develop a good understanding of basic thalamic structure and function. It will also be an important reference for researchers who are active in a particular aspect of thalamic neurobiology but who wish to broaden their horizons. It provides enough background information for the beginning neuroscientist, while highlighting key points in the complexity of the system in a way that the jaded expert will also find useful. Critical Appraisal: This is a relatively concise and approachable book. It will probably appeal mostly to neuroscientists, but clinicians with an interest in brain function will want to read it. Edward H. Bertram, MD Department of Neurology University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Book Reviews Book Reviews: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2010; 30: 104-111 111 |