In this book, internationally recognised experts provide an update on some important basic and technical aspects of neurosurgery. Intracranial tumours are the main focus of the book with chapters dealing with ependymomas, a tumour that still offers difficulties of interpretation in terms of both pathological features and management modalities, intraventricular tumours, which require particular attention in the choice of treatment modalities, and tumours considered typically paediatric that may still present in adulthood although with different aspects. Technical approaches to difficult anatomical areas are discussed in three chapters, dealing with the orbit, the craniocervical junction and the brainstem, respectively. Two rather didactic chapters, dealing with the minimally invasive technique for the spine and the clipping of cerebral aneurysms, are intended to contribute to the training of young neurosurgeons by illustrating the surgical steps in detail. The contribution of ultrasound to neurosurgery is illustrated in two chapters that should arouse great interest. The so-called Chiari malformations is approached in a chapter emphasising the role of cranio-cerebral disproportion in their pathogenesis. Finally, a chapter devoted to the ethical attitude that should characterise the daily practice of the neurosurgeon completes the book.

Like the previous volumes in the series, this one represents an important contribution to the advancement of neurosurgical specialities.