Kirane MV, De Souza CE, eds. Otology and Neurotology. Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Series. Thieme; 2013; 520 pgs.; 416 illustrations. $149.99.

For those neuroradiologists who are deeply involved with head and neck imaging—temporal bone imaging in particular—this book will be of interest. It takes the reader through seven basic areas: Basic Sciences, Approaches to Patients with Ontological/Neurotological Diseases, Disorders of the Middle Ear, Disorders of the Inner Ear, Disorders of the Facial Nerve, Neurotologic and Lateral Skull Base Surgery, Electronic Listening Devices. There is one chapter on temporal bone imaging, but this does not contain information or imaging that cannot be found in more detailed papers and chapters in the neuroradiology literature; in fact, this chapter leaves out some of the more advanced MR techniques such as thin-section CISS sequences. In other words, this is very basic material, and it is surprising that two of the imaging figures are not published in a grayscale mode, while one figure does not show adequately what the authors claim (a unilateral Mondini malformation).

That aside, the neuroradiologist will be interested in the surgical anatomy of the temporal bone and how various lesions of the middle ear and inner ear are approached. The drawings and intraoperative pictures are very helpful in understanding the surgery involved. This reviewer would hope that in future editions of the book, the editors would pay closer attention to the quality of the CT and MR images, which are, frankly, of poor resolution in many instances.

Again, the value is not in the imaging but how the surgeon approaches various pathologies, removes masses, and performs reconstructive surgery. Understanding these problems will make the interpretation of the images (both pre- and postoperative) more meaningful.