This volume brings together an interdisciplinary group of specialists to present and discuss the latest diagnostic and therapeutic concepts and current controversial issues in the management of primary and secondary brain tumors. In the first part, the latest technical developments in neuro-oncology are presented. These include the evaluation of positron-emission tomography for diagnosis, and neuronavigation and operative mapping for operation planning. Innovations in computer-assisted 3-D radiotherapy planning and in image fusioning of CT, MRT, SPECT and PET are also described. A large section of the book is devoted to the diagnosis and interdisciplinary treatment of glioblastoma, one of the most frequently occurring brain tumors. In-depth coverage is given to pathological differential diagnosis, operative standards and the results of radiotherapy. A detailed presentation of the current chemotherapeutic strategies as well as their evaluation within an interdisciplinary therapy concept is also provided. A special chapter focuses on the role of radiotherapy and neurosurgery in the treatment of craniopharyngioma. The final section features discussions on the therapeutic options for brain metastases. Individual indications for both whole-brain irradiation and radiosurgery are given and compared with neurosurgical intervention. New experimental chemotherapies are considered, and finally, the palliative use of chemotherapy is examined. In summary, this book provides an excellent survey of the state of the art in neuro-oncology. It is therefore recommended reading for all clinical neuropathologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists.

Because of tremendous advancements in research, neurosurgical oncology has become increasingly complex, and it is imperative that physicians have scientific evidence to guide and defend their decision making as they strive to provide the best patient care. Controversies in Neuro-Oncology: Best Evidence Medicine for Brain Tumor Surgery, written by world-renowned experts, is a comprehensive guide that compiles, synthesizes, and summarizes the most relevant scientific literature available in neurosurgical oncology. It provides objective recommendations based on the data found in the literature, giving physicians the information they need to make fully informed treatment decisions. Key Features: An opening chapter, Introduction to Best Evidence Medicine, illustrates how the authors rate the viability of the data presented Authors discuss in detail commonly disputed topics specific to tumor type, such as the roles of surgery and gross total resection as well as radiosurgery options Expert recommendation boxes highlight "takeaways" for the reader Summary tables distill abundant scientific evidence and emphasize the main conclusions of published studies This book will be the go-to guide for all neurosurgeons, oncologists, and neurologists involved in the multidisciplinary care of patients with brain tumors.

In the 1980s, following the recommendation of a presidential commission, all fifty states replaced previous cardiopulmonary definitions of death with one that also included total and irreversible cessation of brain function. The Definition of Death: Contemporary Controversies is the first comprehensive review of the clinical, philosophical, and public policy implications of our effort to redefine the change in status from living person to corpse. Edited by Stuart J. Youngner, Robert M. Arnold, and Renie Schapiro, the book is the result of a collaboration among internationally recognized scholars from the fields of medicine, philosophy, social science, law, and religious studies. Throughout, the contributors struggle to reconcile inconsistencies and gaps in our traditional understanding of death and to respond to the public's concern that, in the determination of death under current policies, patients' interests may be compromised by the demand for organ retrieval. Their questions about the philosophical and scientific bases for determining death lead, inevitably, to more profound questions of social policy. Acknowledging that the definition of death is as much a social construct as a scientific one, the authors, in their analysis of these issues, provide a comprehensive and provocative source of information for students and scholars alike.

The second edition of Neuro-Oncology: The Essentials presents a comprehensive, highly readable introduction to the fundamental science and core clinical concepts for successfully managing common problems in neuro-oncology. Tightly focused chapters provide up-to-date systematic coverage of biology, imaging, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and biological concepts. The book addresses specific tumor types in separate chapters, providing detailed discussion of background, incidence, clinical features, management, surgical approaches, recurrence, and outcomes. Highlights: Pearls, pitfalls, controversies, and special considerations in textboxes - ideal for rapidly reviewing key points More than 250 photographs and illustrations demonstrate important concepts This book is an invaluable reference for neurosurgeons, neurologists, oncologists, residents and fellows in these specialties, as well as for students.

This book describes the basics, the challenges and the limitations of state of the art brain tumor imaging and examines in detail its impact on diagnosis and treatment monitoring. It opens with an introduction to the clinically relevant physical principles of brain imaging. Since MR methodology plays a crucial role in brain imaging, the fundamental aspects of MR spectroscopy, MR perfusion and diffusion-weighted MR methods are described, focusing on the specific demands of brain tumor imaging. The potential and the limits of new imaging methodology are carefully addressed and compared to conventional MR imaging. In the main part of the book, the most important imaging criteria for the differential diagnosis of solid and necrotic brain tumors are delineated and illustrated in examples. A closing section is devoted to the use of MR methods for the monitoring of brain tumor therapy. The book is intended for radiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, oncologists and other scientists in the biomedical field with an interest in neuro-oncology.

Patients with cancer can suffer from a bewildering variety of neurologic signs and symptoms. The neurologic symptoms are often more disabling than the primary cancer. Symptoms including confusion, seizures, pain and paralysis may be a result of either metastases to the nervous system or one of several nonmetastatic complications of cancer. The physician who promptly recognizes neurologic symptoms occurring in a patient with cancer and makes an early diagnosis may prevent the symptoms from becoming permanently disabling or sometimes lethal. This monograph, an update of the first edition published in 1995, is divided into 3 sections. The first classifies the wide variety of disorders that can cause neurologic symptoms the patient with cancer, discusses the pathophysiology of nervous system metastases, the pathophysiology and treatment of brain edema and the approach to supportive care of common neurologic symptoms such as seizures, pain, and side effects of commonly used supportive care agents. The second section is devoted to nervous system metastases, addressing in turn, brain, spinal cord, meningeal and cranial and peripheral nerve metastases, describing clinical symptoms, approach to diagnosis and current treatment. The third section addresses several nonmetastatic complications of cancer and includes sections on vascular disease, infections, metabolic and nutritional disorders, side chemotherapy, radiation and other diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The final chapter addresses paraneoplastic syndromes.The book is intended for practicing oncologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists as well as internists who treated patients with cancer. Our attempt was to write a book that would assist oncologists in understanding neurologic problems and neurologists in understanding oncologic problems. The book is also intended for physicians training to specialize in any of the above areas. It includes a practical approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with neurologic disease who are with known to have cancer or in whom cancer is suspected.

Comprehensive Overview of Modern Surgical Approaches to Intrinsic Brain Tumors addresses limitations in the scientific literature by focusing primarily on surgical approaches to various intrinsic neoplasms using diagrams and step-by-step instructions. It provides the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches, controversies, and technical considerations and discusses topics such as anatomy, pathology and animal models, imaging, open brain tumor approaches and minimally invasive approaches. Additionally, it discusses controversial treatments and the pros and cons of each. This book is a valuable source for medical students, neurosurgeons and any healthcare provider who has an interest in brain tumors and techniques to treat them. - Provides a comprehensive review of different approaches, explaining them step-by- step - Includes diagrams that show surgical approaches - Presents the advantages and disadvantages of each approach to aid in decision-making