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Book Review Indian Pediatrics 2002; 39:221 |
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Book Review |
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Tumors of the Pediatic Central Nervous System. Edited by Robert F. Keating, James Tait Goodrich, Roger J. Packer; New York, Stuttgart, Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. 2001, pages 560, Price not mentioned; ISBN 0 86577 848 5 Recent years have witnessed a significant increase in the knowledge about the tumors of the pediatric nervous system, thanks to avail-ability of non-invasive advanced diagnostic methods and effective chemotherapeutic agents. Editors and the experts from allied disciplines such as Pediatric Neurology, Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Neuro- oncology, Physical Rehabilitation, Radio-therapy and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery have compiled a book, in collabora-tion, that covers a wide spectrum of the subject of tumors in pediatric central nervous system. The book is divided into 4 sections. The first section has 11 chapters, which deals with current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches including neuro-radiology, surgical neuro-pathology. Section II has 18 chapters, which provides a detailed account of different intra-cranial tumors, well supported by radiological illustrations (both CT and MRI), photo-micrographs as well as tabulated information. Section III describes spinal cord tumors including some uncommon spinal cord tumors of childhood. Section IV is entitled as Outcomes and complications and includes chapters on postoperative considerations, rehabilitation, cooperative group trials, late effects of therapy in long-term survivors, as well as ethical issues in pediatric neuro- oncology. Each chapter offers a clear, concise and up-to-date description of the topic. The illustrations are excellent in quality with colored slides of histopathological descrip-tion. Bibliography is selective and up-to-date, however there are occasional incomplete references (e.g., no. 4,5,8 on page 108, no. 32 on page 132 and no. 11 on page 237). This is a well-written book on tumors of central nervous system in pediatric age group patients. This book has been conceived by the editors as an attempt to abridge the wide divide between primary care and the specialists’ focus and this has been achieved well by this book. This book is useful resource on ‘Tumors of Pediatric Central Nervous’ system for neuro-surgeons, pediatricians, neurologists, pediatric neurologists, neuro- oncologists and should find a place in the library of every medical institution.
Ajay Sharma, |
