Book Reviews
ItaL J, NeuroL Sci. 17:95, 1996
Book Review D.S. Casper, T.L. Chi, S.L. Trokel
Patologie delrorbita. Diagnostica per immagini e analisi clinica M a s s o n 1995 - Edizione italiana a cura di F. Bandello pp. 328. Lit. 2 7 0 . 0 0 0 - I S B N 88-214-2251-8
The orbit and eye make up a unique and complex region of the nervous system which has a particular and specialized anatomy and is affected by a wide variety of pathological processes that involve different specialists. Accordingly, one of the key characteristics of the Italian edition of "Orbital Diseases. Imaging and Analysis" (first published in 1993) is its multidisciplinary approach to orbital pathology. Written by ophthalmologists and neuroradiologists, with the collaboration of plastic and reconstructive surgeons, neurosurgeons, otosurgeons and oral and dental surgeons, the aim of the book is to provide guidelines for the management of patients with orbital diseases from clinical examination to medical or surgical treatment with the aid of appropriate imagfng studies. A brief introduction is dedicated to the evolution of neuroradiological techniques, from particular X-ray projections to computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR). The text is divided into three sections. In section I, the first chapter is dedicated to clinical examination, also in relation to systemic diseases. This is followed by a wide-ranging and detailed description of the normal anatomy of the eye, the orbit and the surrounding vascular and nervous structures. The last chapter of this section deals with neuroradiological diagnosis, a technical introduction to the different diagnostic methods being followed by an analysis of the radiotogical features of the most important orbital lesions. Section II contains chapters on the most common pathological processes (orbital trauma, thyroid ophthalmopathy, phlogistic processes, tumors, orbital complications of paranasal sinus diseases, ocular aspects of craniofacial anomalies and lacrimal gland lesions) each including a clinical presentation, the results of imaging studies and brief notes on medical and surgical treatment. A separate chapter is dedicated to the analysis of lesions, (mainly tumors) involving both the orbit and the intracranial compartment, with a brief description of surgical procedures. Finally, section III concentrates on the importance of neuroradiological imaging studies in monitoring medical treatment, programming different surgical approaches and assisting post-operative follow-up. The main qualities of this book are its order and clarity of presentation and its multidisciplinary approach to the various pathologies. It can therefore be considered a practical handbook for a wide range of specialists, and easy consultation is favoured by a detailed index. The references are generally updated to 1990, and those of the chapter on the orbital complications of paranasal sinus lesions to 1992. The book includes a large number of coloured clinical tables on the CT and MR characteristics of the most frequent lesions. In the description of the different surgical techniques, perhaps the postoperative radiological findings in which the normal anatomy appears modified could have been explored and illustrated in greater detail. The neuroradiological illustrations are good and clearly described in the legends. However, although the orbit is one of the few remaining anatomic regions in which MR has not completely supplanted CT as the diagnostic imaging system of choice, the presentation of a wider MR iconography would have been valuable. M.G. Bruzzone
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