Mukherji SK (Consulting Ed.), Law M (Guest Ed). Neuroimaging Clinics of North America: State of the Art Brain Tumor Diagnostics, Imaging, and Therapeutics. 2010;20:259-454, Theclinics.com, 12 month subscription $314.00.

This issue of the Neuroimaging Clinics of North America is an important addition to the neuroradiology literature. Dr. Mukherji, the Consulting Editor of the Clinics was wise to have chosen Dr. Meng Law to be the guest editor of this issue because Dr. Law’s selection of topics and authors has allowed a comprehensive review of MR based advanced imaging of brain tumors. There is a proper mixture of neuroradiologists, neuropathologists, imaging scientists, neurological surgeons, radiation oncologists, and neurologists to bring multiple perspectives to the topic (36 authors).

There are 12 chapters, starting as one might expect with a chapter on some of the new pathologic classifications of tumors and the rationale for the histopathologic designation. An insight is given into newer treatment possibilities for glioma treatment in a chapter on describing various imaging molecular tools. Nanotechnology and lesional contrast agents imaging put the reader on the technological edge of the newest innovations in visualizing and evaluating brain malignacies. These advances go hand-in-hand with a chapter describing how advances in imaging assists in brain tumor surgery. This chapter along with one on the prospects of MR guided focused high intensity ultrasound and the review of radiation oncology in brain tumors rounds out the major therapeutic approaches to malignancies.

Of greatest interest to the neuroradiologist will be the individual chapters on Perfusion and Permeability, MR spectroscopy, fMR and DTI. Concerning these chapters, it is proper and good to see that not only do sections in each of these give the theoretical background and the use of each of these tools in tumor evaluation but also that specific technical and imaging/contrast are included, which need to be taken to derive this information.

This issue is heartily recommended to all of those in the clinical neurosciences, particularly to surgeons, radiation oncologists, neuro-oncologists and obviously to radiologists who deal with brain tumor patients. In keeping with the quality of prior NICNA issues, this issue will be valuable to and should be available to all those who practice a significant amount of neuroradiology.