R. Fahlbusch – författare

This series, sponsored by the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies, has already become a classic. In general, one volume is published per year. The Advances section presents fields of neurosurgery and related areas in which important recent progress has been made. The Technical Standards section features detailed descriptions of standard procedures to assist young neurosurgeons in their post-graduate training. The contributions are written by experienced clinicians and are reviewed by all members of the Editorial Board.

This book represents the second, fully revised edition of the original volume published in 1982. Experience in neuroradiology has confirmed the outstanding value of computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of space-occupying lesions within the skull and orbit. It might be assumed, then, that the second edition of this book would simply represent a numerically expanded continua­ tion of the popular first edition. That is not the case, however. Advances in imaging techniques have promp­ ted the creation of a new book whose expanded title reflects its more comprehen­ sive nature. The added illustrations, the revised text, and the expanded circle of editors and contributors document this. Since publication of the first edition, a new modality, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has become an established neuroradiologic study. We felt it was essential to include this new modality in our book and explore its capabilities as an adjunct or alternative to CT scanning. Because of the high acquisition costs of MRI and the still small number of MR units currently in operation, we have relied in part on images furnished by other institutions and private practitioners, to whom we are indebted. Many problems relating to MR, both in terms of equipment and image interpretation, have yet to be resolved. There is no denying that we still have much to learn.

This book represents the second, fully revised edition of the original volume published in 1982. Experience in neuroradiology has confirmed the outstanding value of computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of space-occupying lesions within the skull and orbit. It might be assumed, then, that the second edition of this book would simply represent a numerically expanded continua­ tion of the popular first edition. That is not the case, however. Advances in imaging techniques have promp­ ted the creation of a new book whose expanded title reflects its more comprehen­ sive nature. The added illustrations, the revised text, and the expanded circle of editors and contributors document this. Since publication of the first edition, a new modality, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has become an established neuroradiologic study. We felt it was essential to include this new modality in our book and explore its capabilities as an adjunct or alternative to CT scanning. Because of the high acquisition costs of MRI and the still small number of MR units currently in operation, we have relied in part on images furnished by other institutions and private practitioners, to whom we are indebted. Many problems relating to MR, both in terms of equipment and image interpretation, have yet to be resolved. There is no denying that we still have much to learn.

The current book represents a distillation of the experience gained in diagnosis of intracranial tumors with computed X-ray tomography at the University Hos­ pitals of Berlin, Mainz, and Miinchen. To what purpose? Standard radiological techniques such as pneumoencephalography with lumbar puncture and cerebral arteriography with puncture of the common carotid artery are invasive proce­ dures which entail a certain amount of risk as well as discomfort for the patient. Furthermore, diagnoses made with these procedures rely primarily on indirect signs of an intracranial space-occupying lesion - such as displacement of the air-filled ventricles or of normal cerebral vessels. Only a few types of tumor are demonstrated directly with these techniques. In contrast, computed tomography demonstrates the pathology directly in almost all cases, and this with a minimum of risk and discomfort. In addition, normal intracranial structures are demonstrated, so that the tumor''s effect on its surroundings can be evaluated. Today, almost a decade after HOUNSFIELD''S revolutionary invention, diagno­ sis of brain tumors without computed tomography is almost unthinkable, if not in fact irresponsible.

The current book represents a distillation of the experience gained in diagnosis of intracranial tumors with computed X-ray tomography at the University Hos­ pitals of Berlin, Mainz, and Miinchen. To what purpose? Standard radiological techniques such as pneumoencephalography with lumbar puncture and cerebral arteriography with puncture of the common carotid artery are invasive proce­ dures which entail a certain amount of risk as well as discomfort for the patient. Furthermore, diagnoses made with these procedures rely primarily on indirect signs of an intracranial space-occupying lesion - such as displacement of the air-filled ventricles or of normal cerebral vessels. Only a few types of tumor are demonstrated directly with these techniques. In contrast, computed tomography demonstrates the pathology directly in almost all cases, and this with a minimum of risk and discomfort. In addition, normal intracranial structures are demonstrated, so that the tumor's effect on its surroundings can be evaluated. Today, almost a decade after HOUNSFIELD'S revolutionary invention, diagno­ sis of brain tumors without computed tomography is almost unthinkable, if not in fact irresponsible.

This series is sponsored by the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. The Advances section presents the field of neurosurgery and related areas in which important recent progress has been made. The Technical Standards section features detailed descriptions of standard procedures to assist young neurosurgeons in their post-graduate training. The contributions are written by experienced clinicians.

This series is sponsored by the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. The Advances section presents the field of neurosurgery and related areas in which important recent progress has been made. The Technical Standards section features detailed descriptions of standard procedures to assist young neurosurgeons in their post-graduate training. The contributions are written by experienced clinicians.

"Modem Neurosurgery of Meningiomas and Pituitary Adenomas" presents the state-of-the-art of neurosurgery for these two types of tumors. Following a classification of the pituitary adenomas according to pathology, molecular biological factors are presented and their effects evaluated as these aspects deepen our understanding of the growth and further expansion of these tumors. The diagnosis is made not only by a study of the hormonal status, but also by neuroradiology. A number of authors have devoted their efforts to the special problem groups such as the elderly patients and those with huge pituitary adenomas. Particular emphasis is of course placed on the surgical treatment, including transcranial and transphenoidal neurosurgery, but the use of medical treatment and irradiation must be discussed as well. The treatment of meningiomas has also been influenced by the molecular biology of hormone and growth factors. Therefore it is accorded extensive space in this volume. The prognostic significance of nuclear DNA content is discussed. Recent research with new diagnostic methods such as somatostatin scintigraphy, PET studies end progesterone receptor in tumor fragment spheroids is presented here. The treatment of these tumors, however, depends largely on their localization. For the neurosurgeon, the surgical treatment of meningiomas involving the cavernous sinus, meningiomas of the ventral Foramen of Monroe, meningiomas of the cerebello­ pontine angle and of the optic sheath is presented by prominent experienced leaders in this field.