Neuroimaging, Part II (ePub)

The next 3 sections review diseases of the brain, spine, and peripheral nervous system. Magnetic resonance neurography, a relatively new technique, is given excellent coverage. MRI and ultrasound of skeletal muscle are reviewed, a novel addition to a neuroradiology text, given that these are studies typically interpreted by musculoskeletal radiologists.

Sections V and VI are a strength of this text, describing the proper imaging evaluation of common neurologic syndromes and approach to the differential diagnosis of common imaging findings. The authors provide recommendations and clear rationales for choosing the appropriate imaging examination based on patient history and symptoms. In the differential diagnosis chapters, the reader is taught to interpret imaging findings like a radiologist, an exercise that should prove valuable and interesting to all specialists who personally evaluate imaging studies.

Section VII provides an overview of the most common pediatric pathologies. Three chapters are dedicated to cerebral vascular intervention, covering the primary indications for these techniques: endovascular treatment of stroke, aneurysm, and arteriovenous malformations. Treatment options and succinct summaries of clinical trials are valuable additions. The final chapter is unique, detailing the role of postmortem imaging in validating MRI properties with direct histopathological correlation.

This creative collection should prove interesting and valuable to a wide range of practitioners and students who wish to increase their knowledge of neuroscience and the broad choice of neuroimaging tools available to study the human nervous system, spine, skull base, and head and neck.

~ Wende N. Gibbs, MD, MS, Department of Radiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA