In the last ten years the pediatric neurosurgeon has witnessed a real revolution in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric hydrocephalus, the most frequently encountered condition in everyday clinical practice. The evolution of MRI and the advent of neuroendoscopic surgery have resuscitated the interest in the classification, etiology and pathophysiology of hydrocephalus. The book offers an updated overview on the recent progress in this field, and a new approach to hydrocephalus: the reader will find in it a modern and new presentation of an old disease, where genetics, endoscopy, cost-effectiveness analyses and many other aspects of the various therapies are extensively discussed. The volume will be useful not only for neurosurgeons, but for all specialists interested in the various aspects of hydrocephalus: pediatricians, radiologists, endocrinologists, pathologists and geneticists.

Provides guidelines for managing this grossly underdiagnosed and undertreated condition, focusing on early detection and timely, effective interventions.

A summary of all facets of this new and rapidly developing field in neurosurgery. Besides neuroendoscopy, the books main topics are neuronavigation, functional neurosurgery, radiosurgery, neurotransplantation, and molecular neurosurgery. Provides a thorough overview of the state of the art and future perspectives in minimally invasive neurosurgery.

This book, written by experts from across the world, provides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview covering all aspects of posterior fossa neoplasms in pediatric patients, including medulloblastoma, ependymoma, cerebellar astrocytoma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, chordoma, brain stem tumors, and rarer entities. For each tumor type, individual chapters are devoted to genetics, radiological evaluation using advanced imaging techniques, surgery, pathology, oncology, and radiation treatment. In addition, a separate section describes the various surgical approaches that may be adopted and offers guidance on the treatment of hydrocephalus and the role of intraoperative mapping and monitoring. Useful information is also provided on anatomy, clinical presentation, neurological evaluation, and molecular biology. The book closes by discussing in detail immediate postoperative care, the management of surgical complications, and longer-term rehabilitation and support. Posterior fossa tumors are the most common pediatric brain tumors but are often difficult to treat owing to their proximity to critical brain structures and their tendency to cause marked intracranial hypertension. Practitioners of all levels of experience will find Posterior Fossa Tumors in Children to be a richly illustrated, state of the art guide to the management of these tumors that will serve as an ideal reference in clinical practice.

As a result of technological improvements, neuroendoscopy is now used in the treatment of many more patients, enabling the performance of previously unavailable operations with low complication rates and rapid patient recovery. This book presents the distilled experience of world experts in this evolving field. Current applications in a wide variety of settings are explained in detail and likely future developments are identified. In addition, the available neuroendoscopic instruments are reviewed and the results of international trials and collaborative studies, presented. This book will fully acquaint the reader with the breadth and depth of available neuroendoscopy techniques and their impressive therapeutic potential. It should serve as the reference book on neuroendoscopy for the next 10 years.

It is estimated that the functionally significant body of knowledge for a given medical specialty changes radically every 8 years. New specialties and "sub-specialization" are occurring at approximately an equal rate. Historically, established journals have not been able either to absorb this increase in publishable material or to extend their readership to the new specialists. International and national meetings, symposia and seminars, workshops, and newsletters suc cessfully bring to the attention of physicians within developing spe cialties what is occurring, but generally only in demonstration form without providing historical perspective, pathoanatomical corre lates, or extensive discussion. Page and time limitations oblige the authors to present only the essence of their material. Pediatric neurosurgery is an example of a specialty that has de veloped during the past 15 years. Over this period neurosurgeons have obtained special training in pediatric neurosurgery and then dedicated themselves primarily to its practice. Centers, Chairs, and educational programs have been established as groups of neuro in different countries throughout the world organized surgeons themselves respectively into national and international societies for pediatric neurosurgery. These events were both preceded and fol lowed by specialized courses, national and international journals, and ever-increasing clinical and investigative studies into all aspects of surgically treatable diseases of the child's nervous system.

This book documents the state of the art in pediatric neurosurgery with the intention of providing a comprehensive guide to the management of the full range of pediatric neurosurgical disorders that will aid in the delivery of optimal care. Detailed practical instruction, taking into account recent advances, is provided on the neurosurgical treatment of congenital brain malformations, cerebrovascular diseases, head injuries and spinal trauma, infections, functional disorders, congenital and developmental spinal disorders, and brain and spinal tumors. Pearls and pitfalls are highlighted, and attention drawn to the most useful tips and tricks. Information is also included on relevant related topics, including the principles of neuroimaging, the physiological responses of newborns, infants, and children to neurosurgical trauma, preoperative evaluation, anesthesiology and intensive care, and other forms of therapy. The authors are renowned experts in the field, and the text is supported by a wealth of high-quality images. Handbook of Pediatric Neurosurgery will be of value for neurosurgeons of all levels of experience, as well as for pediatricians, neuroradiologists, neuropathologists, and neuro-oncologists.

Written and edited by leading international authorities in the field, this book provides an in-depth review of knowledge of tuberculosis of the central nervous system, with emphasis on clinical, diagnostics, and therapeutic features. Tuberculosis, one of the most lethal diseases in human history, still poses a serious threat in the world together with economic and social problems, although a great progress in the fight against this infectious disease in the last century. It covers the full range of tuberculosis of central nervous system and the chapters are organized into six sections: (1) the cranial; (2) the spinal; and (3) the peripheral portions of the nervous system; followed by (4) a section on the laboratory studies in tuberculosis; (5) a section on medical and surgical therapy; and (6) further insights into tuberculosis. This comprehensive reference book will be an ideal source for neurosurgeons, neurologists and specialists upon infectious diseases seeking both basic and more sophisticated information and surgical procedures relating to the complications associated with tuberculosis involving the spine, brain and peripheral nerves.

Hydrocephalus is one of the most common diseases of pediatric and adult neurosurgery. With the introduction of modern neurosurgical procedures, this disease has become a life-long problem. Even with optimal treatment, there is still significant morbidity and mortality along with a significant cost to the medical system. This has caused patients and their families to demand improvements in treatments and forced clinicians to evaluate their treatments in large consortiums while utilizing both genetics and technology to improve outcomes or avoid placement of shunt all together. This text is designed to present the current treatments for hydrocephalus across the lifespan. The foundation for understanding cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities begins with the understanding of physiology and pathogenesis of disease. These chapters are written by published experts in the field and detail the significant advances in the detection of CSF abnormalities. This section will discuss the current advances in imaging and current research in biomarkers for both pediatric and adult patients. We will then systematically discuss the treatment of both pediatric and adult CSF disorders. These will be broken down by cause, since the physiology of each can be different. We will end the book with a discussion both of the technological advances and a discussion of consortiums and how they have advanced treatment of this chronic disease.

Hydrocephalus is a common manifestation of many diseases. Caring and treating a patient with hydrocephalus involve engagement and acquire a deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and technical details. Despite the technological developments, treatment of hydrocephalus is still a challenge for every neurological surgeon. The aim of this project is to provide a detailed and accessible information for every single discipline, not only for neurological surgeons, involved in the diagnosis and treatment of the patients with hydrocephalus.