Keating RF, Goodrich JT, Packer RJ. Tumors of the Pediatric Central Nervous System. 2nd ed. Thieme; 2013; 576 pgs.; 492 illustrations; $289.99.
In this highly informative and well illustrated 576-page textbook, the authors (Drs. Keating, Goodrich, and Packer) cover all aspects of pediatric CNS tumors (spine and brain). Although only one chapter (23 pages) is devoted exclusively to neuroradiology, there is a liberal use of images in other chapters, which are, in general, of high quality, though there are a few exceptions, such as a decade-old (probably first-generation) EMI scan purportedly showing a calcified choroid plexus papilloma of the third ventricle (really??) and a number of images the authors failed to convert to grayscale, leaving the reader with a few blue- or brown-tinted MR images.
An added point is that there is only minimal information on and illustration of how functional MR/advanced techniques are used in the surgical approach to a number of intra-axial tumors. MRS, DTI, and pMR are described in the dedicated neuroradiology chapter (by Drs. Vezina and Booth), but it would have been a strong addition to the book to show these procedures and images in other chapters written by neurosurgeons, explaining how, specifically, they use this type of information as they operatively approach the masses.
There are 93 contributing authors whose specialties cover all areas of neuroscience, from neurosurgery to neurology to anesthesia to neuroradiology to pediatric oncology to psychology to radiation oncology to neuropathology. There are 7 sections/subsections, including current therapeutic strategies, historical perspectives, epidemiology neuropathology, chemoradiation therapy, gene therapy, supratentorial tumors, brain stem tumors, infratentorial tumors, skull base tumors, spinal cord tumors, and outcomes/future directions. As can be implied from the title, peripheral neural tumors in the pediatric age group are not part of this book.
There are many excellent attributes of the book, and one could start right from the beginning with the 24 pages of historical perspective on pediatric neuro-oncology by Dr. Goodrich; the writing and, particularly, the ancient and not-so-ancient drawings and illustrations are excellent.
While a neuroradiologist will not want this book to learn the imaging of pediatric CNS tumors, there is a strong reason for those involved in imaging pediatric patients to have access to this book. It covers the basic issues and science behind these tumors, and it updates the reader on neuropathology and genetics in addition to describing critical aspects over 30 different types of CNS tumors.
