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Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. Basic principles
422
Surg Neurol 1984;22:422-4
Book Reviews
A n t i e p i l e p t i c D r u g T h e r a p y in P e d i a t r i c s . E d i t e d by P.Z. M o r s e l l i , C.E. P i p p i n g e r , J.K. Penry. 381 pp., $49.50. N e w Y o r k : R a v e n Press, 1983. "Seizures are the most frequent neurological problem in infants . . . . The incidence of convulsive disorders in the first year of life [is] much higher than in any later period of life." This is the difficulty, succinctly stated by the estimable Dr. J. Aicardi of Paris, to which this volume is addressed. The difficulty is compounded by the diversity of clinical manifestations, the variety of underlying pathology, the rapidity with which the child's metabolic and excretory machinery evolves, and not least, the grand developmental flux of the young brain. The present volume, provided at no cost by the International League Against Epilepsy, Ciba Geigy, is a compilation of papers given at a Symposium held in December 1981. Many prominent international figures in pediatric neurology are represented. The papers are grouped in a straightforward manner with sections on developmental pharmacokinetics (a subject of novel difficulty for those accustomed to adult therapeutics), the clinical spectrum of early life seizures, practical chapters devoted to the utility and toxicity of each major anticonvulsant, and some of the tentative but provocative findings on the longterm effects of specific antiepileptic regimens on cognitive and behavioral development. Happily, the customary unevenness of style, depth, and bibliographic currency that readers of symposia volumes have come to expect has not prevailed here, a tribute to the participants and their editors. It is nice to note that the references in many of the bibliographies postdate the conference; from the internal evidence, I assume a number of manuscripts were revised at the end of 1982. The problem is pressing and pertinent, the presentation is well packaged, and the price is right. F.M. EPSTEIN, M.D. Richmond, Virginia
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Basic Principles. By S t u a r t W . Y o u n g . 175 pp., $19.00. N e w Y o r k : R a v e n Press, 1983. Dr. Stuart Young is a physician in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Stanford University Medical Center, and he has written a book organized to give an overview of the clinical and biologic potential of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. The book has been written in order that a broad spectrum of readers with general imaging background or biologic and physiologic medical background will be able to © 1984 by ElsevierSciencePublishingCo., lnc.
understand the basic principles of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. It is true this book will enable other health professionals without a background in imaging to find the principles, as illustrated by analogies from common experience, helpful in understanding this complex technology. This book is brief (144 pages of text), well illustrated, and printed on excellent paper in very readable print. The reproductions of the illustrations are excellent, and the various line drawings and complex illustrations are well done. This is no simple technique, nuclear magnetic resonance, and it does require a good deal of background information about physics and chemistry in order to understand the general principles. There is a glossary in the back, which is very helpful in understanding some of the terminology. The fact that the book is short, succinct, and well written does not make it an easy subject for comprehension, and those who do not have a strong background in physics will find much of the text hard going. However, it is essential that everyone begin to understand this technique, which has infinite potent i a l s - n o t only in the study of the nervous system, but also in the study of metabolism, in the study of various parts of the body, and in other areas not yet fully explored, such as the circulatory system. This short book should be helpful to gain as much understanding as most physicians can absorb of this technique. It is a book worth the cost and will stand as a reference book for many of those who are on the periphery of this new imaging technique. EBEN ALEXANDER, JR., M.D. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Impact Injury of the Head and Spine. By C.L. Ewing, D.J. T h o m a s , A. Sances and S.F. Larson. 654 pp., $88.50. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. T h o m a s , 1983. The principal purpose of this book is stated to be a report on research and developments that are underway at a number of academic, governmental, and private research laboratories that are contributing to validation and development of an omnidirectional injury model. It is appreciated that the knowledge accumulated in the areas of head and spinal injuries has been principally derived from retrospective studies, investigations conducted on experimental animals, cadavers, dummies, human volunteers, and mathematical models. This book examines the areas of greatest scientific criticality of head and spinal injury. Knowledge regarding the effects of direct impact, mit0090-3019/84/$3.00
Surg Neurol 1984;22:422-4
Book Reviews
A n t i e p i l e p t i c D r u g T h e r a p y in P e d i a t r i c s . E d i t e d by P.Z. M o r s e l l i , C.E. P i p p i n g e r , J.K. Penry. 381 pp., $49.50. N e w Y o r k : R a v e n Press, 1983. "Seizures are the most frequent neurological problem in infants . . . . The incidence of convulsive disorders in the first year of life [is] much higher than in any later period of life." This is the difficulty, succinctly stated by the estimable Dr. J. Aicardi of Paris, to which this volume is addressed. The difficulty is compounded by the diversity of clinical manifestations, the variety of underlying pathology, the rapidity with which the child's metabolic and excretory machinery evolves, and not least, the grand developmental flux of the young brain. The present volume, provided at no cost by the International League Against Epilepsy, Ciba Geigy, is a compilation of papers given at a Symposium held in December 1981. Many prominent international figures in pediatric neurology are represented. The papers are grouped in a straightforward manner with sections on developmental pharmacokinetics (a subject of novel difficulty for those accustomed to adult therapeutics), the clinical spectrum of early life seizures, practical chapters devoted to the utility and toxicity of each major anticonvulsant, and some of the tentative but provocative findings on the longterm effects of specific antiepileptic regimens on cognitive and behavioral development. Happily, the customary unevenness of style, depth, and bibliographic currency that readers of symposia volumes have come to expect has not prevailed here, a tribute to the participants and their editors. It is nice to note that the references in many of the bibliographies postdate the conference; from the internal evidence, I assume a number of manuscripts were revised at the end of 1982. The problem is pressing and pertinent, the presentation is well packaged, and the price is right. F.M. EPSTEIN, M.D. Richmond, Virginia
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Basic Principles. By S t u a r t W . Y o u n g . 175 pp., $19.00. N e w Y o r k : R a v e n Press, 1983. Dr. Stuart Young is a physician in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Stanford University Medical Center, and he has written a book organized to give an overview of the clinical and biologic potential of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. The book has been written in order that a broad spectrum of readers with general imaging background or biologic and physiologic medical background will be able to © 1984 by ElsevierSciencePublishingCo., lnc.
understand the basic principles of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. It is true this book will enable other health professionals without a background in imaging to find the principles, as illustrated by analogies from common experience, helpful in understanding this complex technology. This book is brief (144 pages of text), well illustrated, and printed on excellent paper in very readable print. The reproductions of the illustrations are excellent, and the various line drawings and complex illustrations are well done. This is no simple technique, nuclear magnetic resonance, and it does require a good deal of background information about physics and chemistry in order to understand the general principles. There is a glossary in the back, which is very helpful in understanding some of the terminology. The fact that the book is short, succinct, and well written does not make it an easy subject for comprehension, and those who do not have a strong background in physics will find much of the text hard going. However, it is essential that everyone begin to understand this technique, which has infinite potent i a l s - n o t only in the study of the nervous system, but also in the study of metabolism, in the study of various parts of the body, and in other areas not yet fully explored, such as the circulatory system. This short book should be helpful to gain as much understanding as most physicians can absorb of this technique. It is a book worth the cost and will stand as a reference book for many of those who are on the periphery of this new imaging technique. EBEN ALEXANDER, JR., M.D. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Impact Injury of the Head and Spine. By C.L. Ewing, D.J. T h o m a s , A. Sances and S.F. Larson. 654 pp., $88.50. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. T h o m a s , 1983. The principal purpose of this book is stated to be a report on research and developments that are underway at a number of academic, governmental, and private research laboratories that are contributing to validation and development of an omnidirectional injury model. It is appreciated that the knowledge accumulated in the areas of head and spinal injuries has been principally derived from retrospective studies, investigations conducted on experimental animals, cadavers, dummies, human volunteers, and mathematical models. This book examines the areas of greatest scientific criticality of head and spinal injury. Knowledge regarding the effects of direct impact, mit0090-3019/84/$3.00