Brodsky MC. Pediatric Neuro-Ophthalmology. 2nd ed. Springer 2010, 550 pages, 370 illustrations, $219.00.
Despite its title, Pediatric Neuro-Ophthalmology and the audience to whom it is primarily aimed (ophthalmologist, pediatricians, neurologists, neurosurgeons), there is information here which would be of interest to any neuroradiologist. To his credit, and in a departure from the common situation where books/chapters are multi-authored, Dr. Brodsky has singlehandedly written this impressive 550-page book.
What this book offers our readers is in depth clinical correlations with many of the images we encounter and important correlations with patient photographs and fundoscopic images. This literally and figuratively puts a “face” on CT and MR scans. Imaging is not a primary aim of this book, although representative MRs add to the clinical descriptions. Many MR images are dated (some beyond dated), and one would hope that in the next edition Dr. Brodsky would call on his colleagues to supply later generation MR images including some with the application of advanced techniques. There is plenty of room in the diseases described to show DWI, DTI, MRS. These again are relatively minor criticisms in what otherwise is a well written useful textbook.
There are eleven chapters: “The Apparently Blind Infant,” “Congenital Optic Disc Abnormalities,” “The Swollen Optic Disc,” “Optic Atrophy,” “Transient Unexplained and Psychogenic Visual Loss,” “Ocular Motor Nerve Paloies,” “Complex Ocular Motor Disorders,” “Nystagnus,” “Tortilollis and Head Oscillations,” “Neuro-Ophthalmologic Manifestations of Neurodegenerative Disorders,” “Neuro-Ophthalmologic Manifestations of Systemic Intracranial Disease.”
There is plenty here to interest the neuroradiologist, particularly those with a reasonable volume of pediatric imaging since much of the book deals with generalized neurologic disorders which happen to have neuro ophthalmologic consequences.
Many syndromes familiar to neuroradiologists (Joubert, Walker-Warburg, Sterge-Weber) and uncommon syndromes (Duane, ophthalmologic migraine, Wildervanck), which have distinct MR features are shown. The patient pictures will bring home many of the points which our clinical colleagues attempt to briefly state in their “indication for study,” and the photographs of the retinas and optic nerve leads reminds one of the imaging correlates.
The final two chapters (neuro degenerative disorders, systemic and intracranial disease) deal with subjects more in line with traditional neuroradiology imaging, but the fact is that the entire book rings with items and topics with which we should be familiar. The book overall is a highly recommended purchase both for sectional library and for one’s personal library.
