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Optic Neuritis
BOOK REVIEWS
Edited by H. Stanley Thompson, M.D.
Retinoblastoma. Edited by Frederick C. Blodi.
ment with severe myopia, and palatal clefting defects, called the Stickler syndrome, are omitted. Retinal detachment does not occur in Wagner's family. In one echographic photograph (Figure 6-2), the sector scan has the retinalvitreous interface at the left and anterior segment on the right; it would have been more appropriate to show it in its usual fashion with the anterior segment on the left; the corresponding line drawing should then follow the usual convention. It may be a bit confusing to read the book in its present order, because treatment of retinoblastoma and therapy by light and photocoagulation are summarized before the discussion of echographic diagnosis and fluorescein angiography. Nonetheless, this compact text should be both useful and valuable as a concise reference for both ophthalmic and nonophthalmic practitioners and residents.
New York, Churchill Livingstone lnc., 1985. 228 pages, index, illustrated. $45.00
Reviewed by RICHARD A. LEWIS Houston, Texas Perhaps no single area in ophthalmology reflects the impressive and exponential growth of the evolution and application of modern clinical and molecular genetics more than the investigations and understanding of retinoblastoma. This expansive knowledge about retinoblastoma has been demonstrated in an increasing number of publications in the past five years. This text, edited by Dr. Blodi, is of considerable value to ophthalmologists in residency, ophthalmologists in practice, pediatricians, oncologists, and clinical geneticists. Its 12 chapters cover both diagnostic and therapeutic topics in retinoblastoma in a concise and comprehensive manner. Excellent, current reviews of specific topics related to retinoblastoma include "Treatment of Retinoblastoma" (Chapter 4 by David Abramson), "Echographic Diagnosis" (Chapter 6 by Vernon Hermsen), and "Retinoblastoma in Genetics and Genetic Counselling" (Chapter 8 by Frank [udisch and Shivanand Patil). National and international experts contribute highly informative chapters on the evolution and formation of retinoblastoma (Brenda Gallie), trilateral retinoblastoma and retinocytoma (Lorenz Zimmerman), and a provocative chapter on the enhancement fluorescein angiography provides in evaluating subtle or small tumors (co-authored by Jerry Shields, Larry Donoso, George Sanborn, Dennis Orlock, and James Augsburger). Each of these chapters is succinct, and each is enhanced by high quality black-and-white photographs, fluorescein angiograms, ultrasonic photographs, and line drawings. There are few flaws. In the chapter on differential diagnosis, Wagner disease, whichis currently considered a minor and private family syndrome, is listed in the differential diagnosis of retinoblastoma, whereas radial perivascular lattice degeneration, early onset retinal detach-
Optic Neuritis. Edited by R. F. Hess and G. T.
Plant. New York, Cambridge University Press, 1986.310 pages, index, illustrated. $69.50
Reviewed by NANCY M. NEWMAN San Francisco, California This book is the result of a conference held in November 1984 which, as stated in the preface, covers a number of different though interrelated areas. It begins with ... an up-to-date account of the psychophysical and electrophysiologic bases of normal vision. The clinical picture of optic neuritis in adults and children is outlined from both a neuro-ophthalmologic and immunologic point of view. The use of basic research techniques of psychophysics and electrophysiology are explained and an animal model of optic nerve demyelination is explored by morphological and electrophyiological methods. Finally, the revelance of the above approaches is put into perspective firstly by the pictorial representation of the visual impairment in optic neuritis by an artist and, secondly, by the original reports of the symptoms of optic neuritis by Nettleship, 100 years ago.
550
Edited by H. Stanley Thompson, M.D.
Retinoblastoma. Edited by Frederick C. Blodi.
ment with severe myopia, and palatal clefting defects, called the Stickler syndrome, are omitted. Retinal detachment does not occur in Wagner's family. In one echographic photograph (Figure 6-2), the sector scan has the retinalvitreous interface at the left and anterior segment on the right; it would have been more appropriate to show it in its usual fashion with the anterior segment on the left; the corresponding line drawing should then follow the usual convention. It may be a bit confusing to read the book in its present order, because treatment of retinoblastoma and therapy by light and photocoagulation are summarized before the discussion of echographic diagnosis and fluorescein angiography. Nonetheless, this compact text should be both useful and valuable as a concise reference for both ophthalmic and nonophthalmic practitioners and residents.
New York, Churchill Livingstone lnc., 1985. 228 pages, index, illustrated. $45.00
Reviewed by RICHARD A. LEWIS Houston, Texas Perhaps no single area in ophthalmology reflects the impressive and exponential growth of the evolution and application of modern clinical and molecular genetics more than the investigations and understanding of retinoblastoma. This expansive knowledge about retinoblastoma has been demonstrated in an increasing number of publications in the past five years. This text, edited by Dr. Blodi, is of considerable value to ophthalmologists in residency, ophthalmologists in practice, pediatricians, oncologists, and clinical geneticists. Its 12 chapters cover both diagnostic and therapeutic topics in retinoblastoma in a concise and comprehensive manner. Excellent, current reviews of specific topics related to retinoblastoma include "Treatment of Retinoblastoma" (Chapter 4 by David Abramson), "Echographic Diagnosis" (Chapter 6 by Vernon Hermsen), and "Retinoblastoma in Genetics and Genetic Counselling" (Chapter 8 by Frank [udisch and Shivanand Patil). National and international experts contribute highly informative chapters on the evolution and formation of retinoblastoma (Brenda Gallie), trilateral retinoblastoma and retinocytoma (Lorenz Zimmerman), and a provocative chapter on the enhancement fluorescein angiography provides in evaluating subtle or small tumors (co-authored by Jerry Shields, Larry Donoso, George Sanborn, Dennis Orlock, and James Augsburger). Each of these chapters is succinct, and each is enhanced by high quality black-and-white photographs, fluorescein angiograms, ultrasonic photographs, and line drawings. There are few flaws. In the chapter on differential diagnosis, Wagner disease, whichis currently considered a minor and private family syndrome, is listed in the differential diagnosis of retinoblastoma, whereas radial perivascular lattice degeneration, early onset retinal detach-
Optic Neuritis. Edited by R. F. Hess and G. T.
Plant. New York, Cambridge University Press, 1986.310 pages, index, illustrated. $69.50
Reviewed by NANCY M. NEWMAN San Francisco, California This book is the result of a conference held in November 1984 which, as stated in the preface, covers a number of different though interrelated areas. It begins with ... an up-to-date account of the psychophysical and electrophysiologic bases of normal vision. The clinical picture of optic neuritis in adults and children is outlined from both a neuro-ophthalmologic and immunologic point of view. The use of basic research techniques of psychophysics and electrophysiology are explained and an animal model of optic nerve demyelination is explored by morphological and electrophyiological methods. Finally, the revelance of the above approaches is put into perspective firstly by the pictorial representation of the visual impairment in optic neuritis by an artist and, secondly, by the original reports of the symptoms of optic neuritis by Nettleship, 100 years ago.
550