Editors: Timo Krings, MD; Sasikhan Geibprasert, MD; Juan Pablo Cruz, MD; and Karel G. terBrugge, MD
Publisher: Thieme – 231 pages
Book Review by: Nano Khilnani

There have been significant advances in the management of nerve diseases in the brain and other parts of the human body in the last 20 years or so, writes Dr. In Sup Choi in his Foreword to this book. Among others, he cites these reasons for this advancement:

  • Better understanding of the pathophysiology of diseases made possible by the development of innovative technologies
  • The introduction of detachable balloons by Serbinenko in 1974 that made traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas treatable via the endovascular route
  • The development of variable-stiffness micro catheters in 1986 that enabled the reach of the far distal area in cerebral circulation
  • Invention of detachable coils in 1991 that changed management strategy for intracranial aneurysms

Dr. Choi makes the important point in the Foreword that it is not enough just to know how to use the tools that technology provides to us, but also to have a firm grasp of the anatomy of the neurovascular system.

He uses the example of not only knowing how to drive a car, but also knowing the roads. He writes that most current teaching programs focus on techniques of using the latest tools and not enough on the fundamentals of the anatomy and physiology of the neurovascular system.

He quotes his late Professor Dr. Pierre Lasjaunias who wrote in the Preface of the second edition of Surgical Neuroangiography: “Anataomy is a language and mastering this language is essential for physicians involved in the management of patients with vascular diseases of the central nervous system.” Dr. Choi states further that it was Dr. Lasjaunias who changed how vascular anatomy was interpreted, and he illustrated all variations on the basis of embryology.

Fifteen medical specialists (including the editors) in radiology, neurology, neuroradiology, and allied fields contributed to this book. They are from Canada, Chile, Portugal, Thailand, and the United States. They have authored the following seven chapters:

  1. Aortic Arch
  2. Internal Carotid Artery
  3. Anterior Circulation
  4. Posterior Circulation
  5. External Carotid Artery
  6. Cerebral Veins
  7. Spine

The material is presented in the chapters in this basic format (with some variations) and in this order shown below, and a large number of images are presented in this volume, some with detailed captions to enhance learning and understanding.   

  • Chapter Title
  • Case Description
  • Clinical Presentation
  • Radiologic Studies
  • Diagnosis
  • Embryology and Anatomy
  • Clinical Impact
  • Additional Information and Cases
  • Pearls and Pitfalls
  • Further Reading

 

Editors:

Timo Krings, MD, PhD, FRPC is Professor of Radiology and Surgery and Director of the Neuroradiology Program at the University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sasikhan Geibprasert, MD is Staff Neurointerventionalist and Lecturer in the Department of Radiology at Ramathibodi Hospital at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand.
Juan Pablo Cruz, MD is Staff Neuroradiologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiology at Hospital Clinico de la Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile in Santiago, Chile,
Karel G. terBrugge, MD, FRCPC is the David Braley and Nancy Gordon Chair in Interventional Neuroradiology, Professor of Radiology and Surgery, and Head of the Division of Neuroradiology at University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital in Toronto, Canada.

 

Contributors:

Ronit Agad, MD, FRPC – Toronto, Canada
Karel G. terBugge, MD, FRCPC – Toronto, Canada
Juan Pablo Cruz, MD – Santiago, Chile
Richard I. Farb, MD, FRCPC – Toronto, Canada
Sasikhan Geibprasert, MD – Bangkok, Thailand
Pakorn Jiarakongmun, MD – Bangkok, Thailand
Timo Krings, MD, PhD, FRCPC – Toronto, Canada
Pradeep Krishnan, MD – Toronto, Canada
Emanuele Orru, MD – Baltimore, United States
Vitor Mendes Pereira, MD, MSc. – Toronto, Canada
Sirintara Pongpech, MD – Bangkok, Thailand
Sarah Power, MB, Phd, FFR (RCSI)  – Toronto, Canada
Tiago Rodrigues, MD – Porto, Portugal
Robert A. Willinsky, MD, FRCPC – Toronto, Canada
Christopher D. Witiw, MD – Toronto, Canada