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Textbook of child neurology, 5th ed.
WdUPto one thniwkinagof the epile es. The principks are followed by brief sections of ex~~a~at~o~and ~~~o~~ationthat are clearly written and well supported from the extensive references. Tables and illustr~,. INS this is virtually a single-author text. Following the pattern of the Bounh Edition, an i~trod~cto~ section consisting of the clinical neuro!ogic assess ewt and relevant ~eurod~a~~ostic entities is inclu3ed. This is a useful section with important considerations on the conduct, inaerpreta-
tion, and merits of the various iagnostic modahties, in particular, those ters are crafted with clarity and are, for the most part, thorough in their coverage of the fiefd. apter is well-referenced, although greater inclusion of relevant literature from 1994 could have been anticipated. The index is more user-friendly than the prior edition. Nevertheless, two principal concerns s ould be addressed. First. the organization of the book into a relatively small number of c herently presents obstacles to placement of specific entities such that Tourette syndrome is discussed among the heredodegenerative conditions in the absence of a chapter on disorders of movement, benign paroxysmal vertigo is included with infections of the central nervous system, spasmus nutans is placed with autoimmune conditions, and encephalopathy pops up in the midst of the neuronal ceroid hpofuscinoses rather than in a general discussion of the broader differential of progressive degenerative disorders. Equally confusmg is the inclusion of disorders with known metabolic abnormalities and defined molecular genetic defects (adrenoleukodystrophy. metachromatic leukodystrophy, of modern neuroimaging. The succeeding c
and Schindler
disease) in the heredodegenerative
disease chapter rather disorders lacking clear metabolic definition (Lowe syndrome and the familial myoclonic epilepsies) are included with the metabolic diseases. Disorders of mitochondrial and camitine dysfunction with broad systemic involvement are
than with other metabolic diseases. Conversely,
discussed with disorders of muscle rather than with diseases. Separate chapters related to organelle-specific have obviated this problem. Essential information on t bolic disorders is available, but the reader must search to find it. Second, and more troublesome, is that discussion of rather contentious issues, that is, the origins of cerebral palsy and the potential adverse effects of immunizations, is ambiguous, potentially misleading, and not current. In both instances, the reader is not provided with the full picture. For example, in Chapter 7, exclusion of infantile spasm and sudden infant death syndrome by the 1991 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report as causally related to DPT immunization is not mentioned, although the report is. Moreover, the 10M supplement to this report based on new information from the National Childhood Encephalopathy Stuoy (Miller et al., BMJ 1993;307:117l-6) presented three possible scenarios which were neither “conclusions” nor derived from “the wealth of case reports and studies” as stated in the text. Finally, the continued use of - mongolism” in parallel with Down syndrome should be discouraged. Despite these comments, the Fifth Edition remains a worthwhile text for the student of neurology whether as a trainee or practicing neurologist. Several improvements have been made over previous editions. in
0 1995 by Elsevier Science Inc. * 0887-8994/95/$9.50 SSDI O&87-8994(95)00179-4
add a~d~t~~~a~ information that is available at a glance. Clinical anzcdotes enliven and enrich the text. Despite the arbitrary constraint oq the
of the book, a wide varieky of information is provided in a simple. ibje manner. The riterature on various topics is condensed in a way t provides support for views common to those treating epilepsy. The ~l~f~r~~~t~o~ is sound, and althoug one may argui *ii14 tplc 23 thors on some minor points, the 800 prin iples themselves are all solid clinical wisdom. The two greatest strengths of the book are Its brevity and its succinct way of stating 4tat may seem to be the obvious. These are also its greatest ueaknesses. One mart remember this is not a textbook of epilepsy. A few paragraphs cannot discuss all of the diagnostic and treatment dilemmas in areas such as infantile spasms or neonatal seizures. Comprehensive views cannot be set forth in a book of this size. nor is it the authors’ intent to do so. It is obvious the authors draw upon their extensive personal experience. Experienced epileptologists will rle new information here. but the brief review cf each topic and ildant references will serve a5 3 refresher for areas one may no :nt. Because the majority uf epilepsy arises in childhood, the pediatn:ian, family ph neurologist not specializing in epilepsy. and I.hetrainee will small bcok a very useful and ready referen :t: to aid in their clinical care to patients with epilepsy. Tnt: sections on antiepileptic drug therapy may prove particularly useful. As 3.pediatric neurologist, I wish readily act
a a
’ iple mentioning
the ketogenic di:t could have found a place the 100. book should find a place on the sh4:‘of every busy clinician who
cares for patients with epilepsy but does riot particularly specialize in the field; he or she will find Epilepsy: 100 Ekmenray Principles to kc a useful companion. If one thoroughly masttrs these 100 principles and their associated boo; of knowledge, one w;~uld be well on the way to clinical competence in a primary care settir 4 caring for those with epi lepsy. This book will be of most help to those who use its guidelines to begin their search for more comprehensiv : knowledge of the various topics involved ir the ro-rect 2nd compassionate care of those with epilepsy. Minneapolis. MN
Beverly S. Wical. M.D. University of Minnesota Medical School asu
Edited by Masanrichi Tomonaga, Akira Tanaka, and Howard Yonas. 354 pp., illustrated. Armonk, New York: Futura Publishing Company, 1995. $75.00. TSBN O-87993-609-6. This recently pubhshed book on stable xenon computed tomographic cerebral blood flow is a useful addition to the literature, particuhdy for those interested in learning more about the basic theory and methodol-
Book Reviews
269
tion, and merits of the various iagnostic modahties, in particular, those ters are crafted with clarity and are, for the most part, thorough in their coverage of the fiefd. apter is well-referenced, although greater inclusion of relevant literature from 1994 could have been anticipated. The index is more user-friendly than the prior edition. Nevertheless, two principal concerns s ould be addressed. First. the organization of the book into a relatively small number of c herently presents obstacles to placement of specific entities such that Tourette syndrome is discussed among the heredodegenerative conditions in the absence of a chapter on disorders of movement, benign paroxysmal vertigo is included with infections of the central nervous system, spasmus nutans is placed with autoimmune conditions, and encephalopathy pops up in the midst of the neuronal ceroid hpofuscinoses rather than in a general discussion of the broader differential of progressive degenerative disorders. Equally confusmg is the inclusion of disorders with known metabolic abnormalities and defined molecular genetic defects (adrenoleukodystrophy. metachromatic leukodystrophy, of modern neuroimaging. The succeeding c
and Schindler
disease) in the heredodegenerative
disease chapter rather disorders lacking clear metabolic definition (Lowe syndrome and the familial myoclonic epilepsies) are included with the metabolic diseases. Disorders of mitochondrial and camitine dysfunction with broad systemic involvement are
than with other metabolic diseases. Conversely,
discussed with disorders of muscle rather than with diseases. Separate chapters related to organelle-specific have obviated this problem. Essential information on t bolic disorders is available, but the reader must search to find it. Second, and more troublesome, is that discussion of rather contentious issues, that is, the origins of cerebral palsy and the potential adverse effects of immunizations, is ambiguous, potentially misleading, and not current. In both instances, the reader is not provided with the full picture. For example, in Chapter 7, exclusion of infantile spasm and sudden infant death syndrome by the 1991 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report as causally related to DPT immunization is not mentioned, although the report is. Moreover, the 10M supplement to this report based on new information from the National Childhood Encephalopathy Stuoy (Miller et al., BMJ 1993;307:117l-6) presented three possible scenarios which were neither “conclusions” nor derived from “the wealth of case reports and studies” as stated in the text. Finally, the continued use of - mongolism” in parallel with Down syndrome should be discouraged. Despite these comments, the Fifth Edition remains a worthwhile text for the student of neurology whether as a trainee or practicing neurologist. Several improvements have been made over previous editions. in
0 1995 by Elsevier Science Inc. * 0887-8994/95/$9.50 SSDI O&87-8994(95)00179-4
add a~d~t~~~a~ information that is available at a glance. Clinical anzcdotes enliven and enrich the text. Despite the arbitrary constraint oq the
of the book, a wide varieky of information is provided in a simple. ibje manner. The riterature on various topics is condensed in a way t provides support for views common to those treating epilepsy. The ~l~f~r~~~t~o~ is sound, and althoug one may argui *ii14 tplc 23 thors on some minor points, the 800 prin iples themselves are all solid clinical wisdom. The two greatest strengths of the book are Its brevity and its succinct way of stating 4tat may seem to be the obvious. These are also its greatest ueaknesses. One mart remember this is not a textbook of epilepsy. A few paragraphs cannot discuss all of the diagnostic and treatment dilemmas in areas such as infantile spasms or neonatal seizures. Comprehensive views cannot be set forth in a book of this size. nor is it the authors’ intent to do so. It is obvious the authors draw upon their extensive personal experience. Experienced epileptologists will rle new information here. but the brief review cf each topic and ildant references will serve a5 3 refresher for areas one may no :nt. Because the majority uf epilepsy arises in childhood, the pediatn:ian, family ph neurologist not specializing in epilepsy. and I.hetrainee will small bcok a very useful and ready referen :t: to aid in their clinical care to patients with epilepsy. Tnt: sections on antiepileptic drug therapy may prove particularly useful. As 3.pediatric neurologist, I wish readily act
a a
’ iple mentioning
the ketogenic di:t could have found a place the 100. book should find a place on the sh4:‘of every busy clinician who
cares for patients with epilepsy but does riot particularly specialize in the field; he or she will find Epilepsy: 100 Ekmenray Principles to kc a useful companion. If one thoroughly masttrs these 100 principles and their associated boo; of knowledge, one w;~uld be well on the way to clinical competence in a primary care settir 4 caring for those with epi lepsy. This book will be of most help to those who use its guidelines to begin their search for more comprehensiv : knowledge of the various topics involved ir the ro-rect 2nd compassionate care of those with epilepsy. Minneapolis. MN
Beverly S. Wical. M.D. University of Minnesota Medical School asu
Edited by Masanrichi Tomonaga, Akira Tanaka, and Howard Yonas. 354 pp., illustrated. Armonk, New York: Futura Publishing Company, 1995. $75.00. TSBN O-87993-609-6. This recently pubhshed book on stable xenon computed tomographic cerebral blood flow is a useful addition to the literature, particuhdy for those interested in learning more about the basic theory and methodol-
Book Reviews
269