Citow JS, Adamson DC. Neurosurgery Oral Board Review. Thieme 2011, 284 pages, 151 illustrations, $49.95.
Ever wonder what neurosurgeons are asked on their oral boards? This softcover 257-page book Neurosurgery Oral Board Review by Drs. Citow and Adamson will give you some insights.
Just as ABR examinees are told before they sit for the oral boards in radiology, the authors of this text imply in their preface that the examiners are fair, that they are there to encourage the examinee, and that one should remain relaxed during the exam. That, of course, is easy to say after the exam is over and passed.
In any event the book is divided into 3 sections: Spinal Disorders, Cranial Disorders, and Miscellaneous topics. In spinal disorders, as one would expect, anatomy /approaches along with trauma, degenerative disease, tumors, and other diseases are covered, and a similar number of chapters for the cranial disorders cover anatomy/approaches, trauma, tumors, vascular disease, and other cranial disorders. The miscellaneous section includes chapters on congenital lesions, pain issues, peripheral nerves, critical care, and neurology.
There are cases (predominantly image-based) with the history. Obviously, the candidate is supposed to suggest the diagnosis and treatment plan. At the end of the book, under Case Vignettes, the answers are given along with what we assume the examiner wishes to hear concerning treatment and potential complications. In some cases, such as in sellar/suprasellar/ parasellar mass, the diagnosis is not given but rather a differential diagnosis (they use SATCHMO also) only is mentioned, followed by treatment suggestions.
It is interesting to flip through the cases and see particularly how the problems are handled—the diagnoses are not difficult, but to many neuroradiologists, exactly how the many entities are approached with surgery could be illuminating.
While this isn’t a book we would want to purchase, it certainly would be worth borrowing for a couple days from a neurosurgical resident.
