Work

Controversies in Neuro-Oncology

Year: 2014

Type: book

Abstract: Primary central nervous system tumors occur at alarmingly high rates: 21 cases per 100 000 people each year in the United States 1 (compared with multiple sclerosis, with a worldwide annual incidence of 5.6 cases per 100 000, 2 and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, with an annual incidence of 1.2-2.2 cases per 100 000 in the western hemisphere 3-6 ). Thankfully, the most common among these primary central nervous system tumors are meningiomas, 1 which are generally benign but may nonetheless require surgery for pathologic diagnosis or to reduce neurologic symptoms from local mass effect. For malignant tumors of the central nervous system, glioblastoma being the most common and most pathologically aggressive example, surgery is not only important for these reasons, but the extent of surgical resection is positively correlated with overall survival. 7 Given this information, it is no surprise that neurosurgery is essential to the multidisciplinary neuro-oncology practice. As such, a neurologist’s or neuro-oncologist’s knowledge of the best evidence for brain tumor surgery will benefit their professional discussions, research, and ultimately patient care. Controversies in Neuro-Oncology: Best Evidence Medicine for Brain Tumor Surgery serves as an outstanding resource toward this goal. The book features 112 chapters, written by some of the most respected names in neurosurgery and neuro-oncology. The first chapter details the methods of study analysis used in subsequent chapters, as well as the definitions for levels of evidence and grades of recommendation. The rest of the chapters, then, are divided into user-friendly sections based on tumor type or anatomic location, and often include high-quality radiographic images and tables. Although there are a few sections that provide more technical neurosurgical detail than most neurologists may want or need to know (eg, chapter 43, “Open vs Endoscopic Resection of Midline Anterior Cranial Base Malignancy”), the majority of the book focuses on common clinical situations about which a neurologist or neuro-oncologist might be consulted, or which

Source: Thieme eBooks

DOI: 10.1055/b-002-89584