Chong V. Skull Base Imaging. Elsevier; 2018; 350 pp; $99.99
Skull Base Imaging is a relatively short but succinct text that deals with issues and images that neuroradiologists face on a daily basis. Edited by Dr. Vincent Chong with contributions from 30 authors from around the globe, this 409-page book highlights, in 17 chapters, imaging and the clinical importance of abnormalities of the skull base, including (but not limited to) the sinuses, temporal bone, craniocervical junction, and bone lesions. Within most chapters is information that directly addresses why certain observations are important in patient care and surgical and interventional management. Emphasized by a number of authors is the need to construct radiology reports, which are meaningful particularly to the surgeon.
As is appropriate, some chapters contain normal anatomic descriptions and illustrations and importantly, as in imaging of the sinuses, middle ear, mastoids and IAC, CT predominantly demonstrates the consequences of prior surgery. All of the chapters were well illustrated and appropriately written. Noteworthy are the anatomic descriptions of the paranasal sinuses, the variants that in turn determine the variable drainage pathways, what should appear in CT reports, how this is surgically important, and where danger areas exist. There are good demonstrations of multiple abnormalities, such as invasive fungal sinusitis, idiopathic inflammatory pseudotumors, perineural spread of SCC, and invasion of the skull base, among other abnormalities.
The chapter on imaging in endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery, co-authored by radiologists and a surgeon, describes anatomic limitations in endoscopic surgery, which are important details for radiologists to understand.
Imaging of the temporal bone is discussed in 5 chapters (Inflammatory, Tumors, Trauma, Hearing Loss, Postoperative Findings) and is a large portion of the book. The variety and choices of images (CT and MR) depict the salient features of these chapters. For those who do considerable ENT imaging, the material on the postoperative temporal bone is an important review, made particularly so by the inclusion of clinical information.
Two areas that often cause some confusion in image interpretation are the petrous apex and the jugular foramen. Both are handled well in their respective chapters, which are complete with normal CT/MR anatomy, variations, and pathology.
In addition to the topics mentioned above, this book contains other chapters that would be of value to the diagnostic radiologist; the 22-page chapter on neurointerventional radiology for skull base lesions by Dr. Hon-Man Liv and Dr. Yen-Heng Lin should interest all neuroradiologists, even if they do not perform these interventions.
Overall, this tightly constructed, informative text is confidently recommended as a good review of skull base imaging pathology, would be part of a recommended reading list for all trainees, and would serve as a refresher for all practicing neuroradiologists.
