- Email: [email protected]
Computed body tomography
174
Book Reviews
Surg Neurol 1983;20:173-4
into related areas. He was a personal friend of this reviewer. My most intimate contacts with Dr. Merritt were when we both served as members of the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness (now the NINCDS). Here his diplomatic ability and his devotion to research concerned with the nervous system were obvious qualities, his warmth and sento everyone. His “humanistic sitivity” as pointed out by Dr. Yahr were obvious. But, it was also often apparent that Dr. Merritt could be firm, resolute, even rigid in defending his opinions. He tolerated fools poorly. At the same time he consistently maintained the respect and admiration of his colleagues. Of Dr. Merritt’s many research interests, his discovery with Putnam of the antiepileptic value of sodium diphenyl hydantoinate is the most outstanding and the one for which he will always be remembered. This was a truly great contribution to neurological therapy. The chapters in this book deal with Parkinson’s disease; migraine; syringomyelia; phenytoin; epilepsy; the relation of genetics to neurological diseases; vascular disease; and dementia and encephalitis, These presentations are interesting without being outstanding. The preface tells something about Dr. Merritt, but cannot be considered and I am sure was not intended to be a definitive biography of the man. The volume would have been strengthened by a complete biographical chapter. All of those who knew Houston Merritt, who studied with him, or who admired him will want this book in their libraries. It should also be available in all medical libraries. PAUL C. BUCY,
M.D.,
Editor
Computed
Body Tomography.
S. Sagel, Robert J. Stanley, editors. 608 pp., 1500 illustrations, $80.00. New York: Raven Press, 1983.
Joseph
K. T. Lee, Stuart
Under the direction of Drs. Lee, Sagel, and Stanley, the contributory staff of the Edward Mallinckrodt lnstitute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, have covered in 20 chapters all extracranial areas involved in computed body tomography. Although the book is intended primarily as a radiology text, the chapter on the spine is of particular interest to the practicing neurosurgeon. Also of interest are the chapters on comparative imaging and on the musculoskeletal system, as well as the history of computed tomography provided in the foreword by Dr. Ronald Evens. The chapter on the spine by Mokhtar H. Gado, Fred J. Hodges III, and Jash I. Pate1 deals primarily with degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine and with spine trauma. There are also sections on congenital anomalies and intraspinal tumors. The images provided are of good quality and particularly valuable in the correlation of myelography with computed tomography. The advantages and limitations of computed tomography and the role of myelography are discussed. The chapter references list over 70 current articles for further information on specific topics. PETER E. WEINBERG, Chicago, Illinois
M.D.,
Associate
Editor
Book Reviews
Surg Neurol 1983;20:173-4
into related areas. He was a personal friend of this reviewer. My most intimate contacts with Dr. Merritt were when we both served as members of the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness (now the NINCDS). Here his diplomatic ability and his devotion to research concerned with the nervous system were obvious qualities, his warmth and sento everyone. His “humanistic sitivity” as pointed out by Dr. Yahr were obvious. But, it was also often apparent that Dr. Merritt could be firm, resolute, even rigid in defending his opinions. He tolerated fools poorly. At the same time he consistently maintained the respect and admiration of his colleagues. Of Dr. Merritt’s many research interests, his discovery with Putnam of the antiepileptic value of sodium diphenyl hydantoinate is the most outstanding and the one for which he will always be remembered. This was a truly great contribution to neurological therapy. The chapters in this book deal with Parkinson’s disease; migraine; syringomyelia; phenytoin; epilepsy; the relation of genetics to neurological diseases; vascular disease; and dementia and encephalitis, These presentations are interesting without being outstanding. The preface tells something about Dr. Merritt, but cannot be considered and I am sure was not intended to be a definitive biography of the man. The volume would have been strengthened by a complete biographical chapter. All of those who knew Houston Merritt, who studied with him, or who admired him will want this book in their libraries. It should also be available in all medical libraries. PAUL C. BUCY,
M.D.,
Editor
Computed
Body Tomography.
S. Sagel, Robert J. Stanley, editors. 608 pp., 1500 illustrations, $80.00. New York: Raven Press, 1983.
Joseph
K. T. Lee, Stuart
Under the direction of Drs. Lee, Sagel, and Stanley, the contributory staff of the Edward Mallinckrodt lnstitute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, have covered in 20 chapters all extracranial areas involved in computed body tomography. Although the book is intended primarily as a radiology text, the chapter on the spine is of particular interest to the practicing neurosurgeon. Also of interest are the chapters on comparative imaging and on the musculoskeletal system, as well as the history of computed tomography provided in the foreword by Dr. Ronald Evens. The chapter on the spine by Mokhtar H. Gado, Fred J. Hodges III, and Jash I. Pate1 deals primarily with degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine and with spine trauma. There are also sections on congenital anomalies and intraspinal tumors. The images provided are of good quality and particularly valuable in the correlation of myelography with computed tomography. The advantages and limitations of computed tomography and the role of myelography are discussed. The chapter references list over 70 current articles for further information on specific topics. PETER E. WEINBERG, Chicago, Illinois
M.D.,
Associate
Editor