Intracranial Vascular Malformations and Aneurysms: From Diagnostic Work-Up to Endovascular Therapy, 2nd ed

Springer has renewed another classic text in the Medical Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging series with the 2008 second edition of Intracranial Vascular Malformations and Aneurysms: From Diagnostic Work-Up to Endovascular Therapy. The German editors accomplished their goal with recognized experts providing a narrow focus of a concise treatise of 282 pages in 5 chapters. The chapters include the following: 1) “Developmental Venous Anomalies,” 2) “Cavernous/Capillary Telangiectasis,” 3) “Pial Arteriovenous Malformations,” 4) “Dural Arteriovenous Malformations,” and 5) “Intracranial Aneurysms.” Each chapter is organized into pathology, clinical presentation, diagnostic imaging, therapy, and references.

The text is clearly written from the perspective of an interventional neuroradiologist/neurointerventional surgeon with the neuroscience specialist in mind. It will provide a contemporary review for those in the field but will be a concise introduction for fellows in neuroradiology/neurointervention as well as residents in neurology and neurosurgery. For attending physicians with patients presenting with intracranial neurovascular lesions, this reference will guide their decisions in work-up and referral-for-treatment options.

The images and tables have appropriate labels with a large number of examples provided with contemporary images. Multisector CT angiography, rotational 3D angiography, and the role of noninvasive imaging with respect to decision making for treatment are covered and referenced in each chapter. The references are complete, with historic landmark papers as well as the more recent peer-reviewed articles published in 2007 or before.

The editors should be applauded on their success in reducing the redundancy of shared material among the chapters. The 60-page chapter “Pial Arteriovenous Malformations” has an extensive review of materials used in endovascular treatment. This includes catheters and materials used for embolization, such as adhesive-versus-nonadhesive embolics (cyanoacrylate versus Onyx). The complexities of technical problems associated with embolization of intracranial arteriovenous malformations are given significant coverage. Just more than half of the text is dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of intracranial aneurysms. A thorough review of treatment options for unruptured-versus-ruptured aneurysms is well discussed and referenced.

In summary, this text delivers a concise review of all current thought processes in diagnostic imaging evaluation and treatment options for this group of lesions. I would recommend it as a good reference for any physician or institutional library with interest in this field of complex neurovascular disease.

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