- Email: [email protected]
Clinical Neurology
Neuromuscular Disorders 14 (2004) 83 www.elsevier.com/locate/nmd
Book review Clinical Neurology Manson Publishing, 2002, ISBN 1-84076-010-9, 768 pages, £85.00 A number of excellent texts are available in general clinical neurology; why then go to the trouble to supply another? One reason is the rapid evolution of diagnostic techniques, such as in neuroradiology or neurogenetics, or in subspecialities in neurology such as muscle disease or stroke treatment, making for early obsolescence. Another is the difficulty avoiding either the unevenness of multi-authored handbooks, or the gaps in single authored texts (something that neuromuscular disorders especially seem to suffer from). Progress in electronic data collections has left many expensive books far behind regarding presentation and up-to-dateness. This book comprises one handy volume, with excellent print and layout. In colour throughout, it is exemplary regarding image quality and clarity. The tables are well highlighted, and the figures are a very comprehensive collection illustrating clinical, pathological and radiological data, and even a large number of electrophysiological graphs. Occasionally, the text tends towards a checklist style, but the authors have generally taken care to present the clinical aspects of disorders in full text that remains graphic and readable. Treatment paragraphs are up-to-date,
* Corresponding reviewer. Tel.: þ44-131-537-3110; fax: þ 44-131-3325150. 0960-8966/03/$ - see front matter q 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V. doi:10.1016/S0960-8966(03)00094-4
mostly providing good estimates of the evidence base of strategies, which are noticeably from a British/Australian perspective. In the chapters covering neuromuscular disorders, good care has been taken to keep genetic data up-to-date and diagnostic classifications up to current principles. There are individual minor inaccuracies, such as in the table classifying limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Some difficult decisions have been made in order to contain the text in a true one-volume format, and the muscle disease sections as well as some areas of specialist interest such as mitochondrial diseases are very concise. References have been kept to a well-selected minimum. The indexing is adequate. The text provides a very efficient and up-to-date overview of an extensive speciality. It remains a good read throughout, which is aided by the excellent layout and presentation. It can be advised both for those in their neurological training as well as for experienced neurologists looking for rapid, clinically relevant update in areas outside their special interest. G.J. Hankey, J.M. Wardlaw* Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, Scotland EH4 2XU, UK E-mail address: [email protected]
Book review Clinical Neurology Manson Publishing, 2002, ISBN 1-84076-010-9, 768 pages, £85.00 A number of excellent texts are available in general clinical neurology; why then go to the trouble to supply another? One reason is the rapid evolution of diagnostic techniques, such as in neuroradiology or neurogenetics, or in subspecialities in neurology such as muscle disease or stroke treatment, making for early obsolescence. Another is the difficulty avoiding either the unevenness of multi-authored handbooks, or the gaps in single authored texts (something that neuromuscular disorders especially seem to suffer from). Progress in electronic data collections has left many expensive books far behind regarding presentation and up-to-dateness. This book comprises one handy volume, with excellent print and layout. In colour throughout, it is exemplary regarding image quality and clarity. The tables are well highlighted, and the figures are a very comprehensive collection illustrating clinical, pathological and radiological data, and even a large number of electrophysiological graphs. Occasionally, the text tends towards a checklist style, but the authors have generally taken care to present the clinical aspects of disorders in full text that remains graphic and readable. Treatment paragraphs are up-to-date,
* Corresponding reviewer. Tel.: þ44-131-537-3110; fax: þ 44-131-3325150. 0960-8966/03/$ - see front matter q 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V. doi:10.1016/S0960-8966(03)00094-4
mostly providing good estimates of the evidence base of strategies, which are noticeably from a British/Australian perspective. In the chapters covering neuromuscular disorders, good care has been taken to keep genetic data up-to-date and diagnostic classifications up to current principles. There are individual minor inaccuracies, such as in the table classifying limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Some difficult decisions have been made in order to contain the text in a true one-volume format, and the muscle disease sections as well as some areas of specialist interest such as mitochondrial diseases are very concise. References have been kept to a well-selected minimum. The indexing is adequate. The text provides a very efficient and up-to-date overview of an extensive speciality. It remains a good read throughout, which is aided by the excellent layout and presentation. It can be advised both for those in their neurological training as well as for experienced neurologists looking for rapid, clinically relevant update in areas outside their special interest. G.J. Hankey, J.M. Wardlaw* Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, Scotland EH4 2XU, UK E-mail address: [email protected]