Lawton MT. Seven AVMs: Tenets and Techniques for Resection. Thieme; 2014; 352 pp; 869 ill; $189.99
This is the first edition of Professor Michael Lawton’s Seven AVMs: Tenets and Techniques for Resection. Coming off the heels of the successful book Seven Aneurysms: Tenets and Techniques for Clipping, Lawton presents his approach to AVMs from his vast experience using a methodical and systematic approach to a dynamic and variable pathology.
There are only a handful of surgeons, not only in the country but also in the world, that have the privileged opportunity to operate on this volume of AVMs (over 500). He has courageously taken advantage of this responsibility and turned it into a manuscript that allows the neurosurgery community to learn from his experience.
The book begins with a forward by Professors Albert Rhoton Jr. and Robert Spetzler, both attesting to Dr. Lawton’s surgical expertise and ability to produce a book capable of tackling this daunting feat. The book is then divided into three sections: 1) 10 tenets or general principles for the surgical management of AVMs, 2) the 7 AVMs, and 3) selection strategies.
The hardcover is extensively illustrated with high-quality figures (over 700) including anatomic drawings, operative photographs, and contemporary imaging. To provide a better conceptualization of the AVMs and their relationships to eloquent brain, arteries, vessels, and ventricles, the figures include multiple anatomic illustrations of the AVM (coronal, anterior) plus a surgeon’s view. Furthermore, clear and concise legends supplement the detailed text.
The last section of the book discusses the selection strategies with mention of natural history, grading systems, and multimodality intervention (embolization, radiosurgery). Unfortunately, the ARUBA (A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain AVMs) trial was not in press before this book was published; however, Dr. Lawton’s views on this study and its controversies are published in peer-reviewed journals.1,2
Although written for neurosurgeons and trainees, this is also a great reference book for any Neuroradiology section, both academic and private practice. The importance of the neuroradiologist’s role in the management of AVMs could not be overstated. This book will provide neuroradiologists (trainees and those in practice) the key questions they will be expected to help answer when working with the neurosurgeon.
The overall quality of the radiology images is excellent. The text also benefits from extensive intra-operative photography and outstanding artwork illustrating the relevant anatomy for each location and the suggested method of resection. References are not included for each chapter; however, a section on selected readings is provided at the end of the book.
In conclusion, this is a solid, up-to-date, and thorough review of the most difficult vascular malformation faced by neurosurgeons. Seven AVMs should be on every neurosurgeon’s bookshelf.
