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Congenital malformations of the spine and spinal cord
Journal of the NeurologicalSciences, 1979, 42:317-320 © Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press
317
Book Reviews
Pathology of Cerebrospinal Microcirculation
( A d v a n c e s in N e u r o l o g y , V o l . 20), by
J. C e r v o s - N a v a r r o , E. Betz, G . E b h a r d t , R. F e r s z t a n d R. W u l l e n w e b e r (Eds.), 632 pages, R a v e n Press, N e w Y o r k , N Y , 1978, U S $ 58.50. This book is one of a series entitled "Advances in Neurology" and is said on the dust cover to be invaluable to neurologists and neurosurgeons. On closer inspection it appears to be the proceedings of a conference on microcirculation held in Berlin and the "leading authorities commissioned by the editors" turn out to be those who submitted papers to the meeting. The book is splendidly produced and illustrated; on the first page is printed a list of distinguished advisers to the series, not one of whom appears to have attended the conference. The subject matter consists of a large number of highly technical papers on the biochemistry, physiology and morphology of brain capillaries. Some of these are excellent, as for example Betz and Heuzer on the interaction of anions and cations on pial arteries. Some are of doubtful relevance such as a paper on cerebral blood flow in the hypotensive goat, and some are horrific such as an experimental study on the effects of bullet wounds on the brain of the dog. The single clinical paper in the whole book describes the early results of transcranial anastomosis in patients with stroke. Any neurologist or neurosurgeon buying this book on the strength of the title in the hope of advancing his knowledge of clinical neurology might be justifiably aggrieved. This type of book can be of interest only to specialised research workers in the field of cerebral microcirculation and even they will have already read many of the papers when they appeared in other journals. It is to be hoped that the distinguished editorial board will find a subject of more general interest for the next volume. R. W. Ross Russell
Congenital Malformations of the Spine and Spinal Cord ( H a n d b o o k
of Clinical Neuro-
logy, V o l . 32), by P. J. V i n k e n a n d G. W. B r u y n (Eds.), in c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h N . C. Myrianthopoulos,
xii +
588 pages, 341 i l l u s t r a t i o n s ,
41 tables, N o r t h - H o l l a n d
P u b l i s h i n g C o m p a n y , A m s t e r d a m , 1978, U S $ 102.25, Dfl 235.00. Of the three volumes in this series which deal with congenital malformations of the central nervous system, this is the volume devoted to the spine and spinal cord. The importance of the book can be seen from the list of authors, many of whom are world authorities on their subjects. All the chapters are interesting and well worth reading, especially "Angiomas of the spinal cord" by Djindjian, "Congenital tumours of the spinal cord" by Takeuchi, Ohta and Kajikawa, and "Hydromyelia" by Foster. The chapter on "Spina bifida" by Brocklehurst provides the most up to date information on this subject including a very extensive bibliography. In the same chapter will be found an important section on the pre-natal diagnosis of neural tube defects by Campbell and Little. This is one of the most up to date and comprehensive works on this subject and will prove very useful to specialists interested in congenital malformations. L. P. Lassman
317
Book Reviews
Pathology of Cerebrospinal Microcirculation
( A d v a n c e s in N e u r o l o g y , V o l . 20), by
J. C e r v o s - N a v a r r o , E. Betz, G . E b h a r d t , R. F e r s z t a n d R. W u l l e n w e b e r (Eds.), 632 pages, R a v e n Press, N e w Y o r k , N Y , 1978, U S $ 58.50. This book is one of a series entitled "Advances in Neurology" and is said on the dust cover to be invaluable to neurologists and neurosurgeons. On closer inspection it appears to be the proceedings of a conference on microcirculation held in Berlin and the "leading authorities commissioned by the editors" turn out to be those who submitted papers to the meeting. The book is splendidly produced and illustrated; on the first page is printed a list of distinguished advisers to the series, not one of whom appears to have attended the conference. The subject matter consists of a large number of highly technical papers on the biochemistry, physiology and morphology of brain capillaries. Some of these are excellent, as for example Betz and Heuzer on the interaction of anions and cations on pial arteries. Some are of doubtful relevance such as a paper on cerebral blood flow in the hypotensive goat, and some are horrific such as an experimental study on the effects of bullet wounds on the brain of the dog. The single clinical paper in the whole book describes the early results of transcranial anastomosis in patients with stroke. Any neurologist or neurosurgeon buying this book on the strength of the title in the hope of advancing his knowledge of clinical neurology might be justifiably aggrieved. This type of book can be of interest only to specialised research workers in the field of cerebral microcirculation and even they will have already read many of the papers when they appeared in other journals. It is to be hoped that the distinguished editorial board will find a subject of more general interest for the next volume. R. W. Ross Russell
Congenital Malformations of the Spine and Spinal Cord ( H a n d b o o k
of Clinical Neuro-
logy, V o l . 32), by P. J. V i n k e n a n d G. W. B r u y n (Eds.), in c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h N . C. Myrianthopoulos,
xii +
588 pages, 341 i l l u s t r a t i o n s ,
41 tables, N o r t h - H o l l a n d
P u b l i s h i n g C o m p a n y , A m s t e r d a m , 1978, U S $ 102.25, Dfl 235.00. Of the three volumes in this series which deal with congenital malformations of the central nervous system, this is the volume devoted to the spine and spinal cord. The importance of the book can be seen from the list of authors, many of whom are world authorities on their subjects. All the chapters are interesting and well worth reading, especially "Angiomas of the spinal cord" by Djindjian, "Congenital tumours of the spinal cord" by Takeuchi, Ohta and Kajikawa, and "Hydromyelia" by Foster. The chapter on "Spina bifida" by Brocklehurst provides the most up to date information on this subject including a very extensive bibliography. In the same chapter will be found an important section on the pre-natal diagnosis of neural tube defects by Campbell and Little. This is one of the most up to date and comprehensive works on this subject and will prove very useful to specialists interested in congenital malformations. L. P. Lassman