Like the ten preceding volumes in the series Tumors of the Central Nervous System, this book is distinguished for its comprehensive approach, its distinguished roster of some 93 contributors representing 8 different countries and its embrace of leading-edge technology and methods. Volume 11: Imaging, Glioma and Glioblastoma, Stereotactic Radiotherapy, Spinal Cord Tumors, Meningioma, and Schwannomas concentrates on the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of four types of tumors, namely Glioblastoma, Meningioma, Schwannoma and Spinal Tumors. The book offers an in-depth survey of a range of new technologies and their applications to tumor diagnosis, treatment and therapy assessment. The contributors explain in thorough detail a range of current and newly developed imaging methods, including molecular imaging and PET scan. Also covered is molecular profiling of brain tumors to select therapy in clinical trials of brain tumors. Discussion includes a review of such surgical treatments as resection and the application of non-invasive stereotactic radiosurgery for treating high-risk patients with brain metastasis. Additional discussion is devoted to tumor seeding.

As in the case of its eleven predecessors in the series Tumors of the Central Nervous System, this volume is distinguished for its thorough approach, its roster of 92 distinguished contributors representing 11 different countries and its detailed examination of leading-edge technology and methods. Volume 12: Molecular Mechanisms, Children’s Cancer, Treatments, and Radiosurgery offers a comprehensive review of the diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of brain and spinal cord tumors. Coverage extends to a large number of tumor types, including neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, meningioma and chordoma. Molecular profiling of brain tumors to select appropriate therapy in clinical trials of brain tumors is discussed in detail, as is the classification/diagnosis of brain tumors based on function analysis. CDK6 as the molecular regulator of neuronal differentiation in the adult brain, and the role of aquaporins in human brain tumor growth are explained. Discussion also includes tumors affecting children, including neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. A full chapter is devoted to the role of molecular genetic alterations in medulloblastoma, and another examines survival differences between children and adults with medulloblastoma. The use of various types of imaging methods to diagnose brain tumors is explained. In-depth discussion of treatment options includes stereotactic radiosurgery, endoscopic neurosurgery, electrochemotherapy, transsphenoidal surgery, focal ablation, whole brain radiation therapy and recraniotomy.

WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System is the revised fourth edition of the WHO series on histological and genetic typing of human tumors. This authoritative, concise reference book provides an international standard for oncologists and pathologists and will serve as an indispensable guide for use in the design of studies monitoring response to therapy and clinical outcome. Diagnostic criteria, pathological features, and associated genetic alterations are described in a disease-oriented manner. Sections on all recognized neoplasms and their variants include new ICD-O codes, epidemiology, clinical features, macroscopy, pathology, genetics, and prognosis and predictive factors. The book, prepared by 122 authors from 19 countries, contains more than 800 color images and tables, and more than 2800 references. This book is in the series commonly referred to as the "Blue Book" series.

Thoroughly revised to reflect the latest advances in neurosurgery, radiation oncology, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and the basic sciences, the Second Edition of this highly acclaimed volume is the most comprehensive, current reference on tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system. More than 100 of the foremost authorities present multimodality treatment strategies for specific tumor types and examine the mechanisms of tumorigenesis. Coverage includes state-of-the-art information on image-guided surgery, local delivery systems, intraoperative imaging, proton beam therapy, conformal systems, radiosurgery, new drugs and biological agents, and cell cycle deregulation and chromosomal abnormalities in tumorigenesis. This edition contains over 400 illustrations.

The classification of brain tumors is up-dated using magnetic resonance spectroscopy technology. The role of cellular immortality in brain tumors is reviewed. Tumor to tumor metastases are a common occurrence; for example, , brain metastasis from breast cancer, lung cancer, and renal cancer is discussed. Genetic profiling and treatment (including neurosurgery) of such brain cancers are explained. Breast cancer patients treated with certain drugs (e.g., capecitabine and lapatinib can develop CNS tumors. Role of brain tumor suppressor genes (e.g., NRP/B gene) is pointed out. Biomarkers used to diagnose brain malignancies are explained in detail. A number of imaging modalities used for diagnosing and assessing the effectiveness of treatments of brain tumors are presented. The imaging methods discussed include MRI, PET, CT, MRSi, and SPECT. Also, is discussed the impact of PET using radiolabeled amino acids on brain tumors.

Volume 13: Pineal, Pituitary, and Spinal Tumors is organized in six sections, for convenience and quick access to critical information. Section I, Types of Tumors includes a chapter on molecular characterization of Embryonal tumors, a chapter on diagnosis of metastatic oligodendroglioma using fine-needle aspiration cytology, one covering intra-arterial chemotherapy of oligodendroglial tumors and another on the role of cyclooxygenase-2 in the development and growth of Schwannomas, and others, closing with a chapter on trigeminal neuralgia with cerebellopontine angle tumors. Section II, Diagnosis, includes two chapters on cell counting in histopathologic slides of tumors. Section III offers three chapters which discuss aspects of intraoperative ultrasonography. Section IV covers brain tumor surgery, and Section V surveys Brain Metastasis. The final section offers a wide-ranging review of General Diseases, with chapters on, among others, Alexander Disease; Lipoma; Transplantation of human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells in cases of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage; and a chapter discussing the use of mobile phones and brain cancer risk in children. Like its twelve predecessors in the series, this volume merits distinction for its thorough approach, its roster of 78 distinguished contributors representing 14 different countries and its detailed examination of leading-edge technology and methods.

This volume mainly contains information on the diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of brain tumors. Insights on the understanding of molecular pathways involved in tumor biology are explained, which should lead to the development of effective drugs. Information on pathways (e.g., hedgehog) facilitates targeted therapies in cancer. Tumor models are also presented, which utilize expression data, pathway sensitivity, and genetic abnormalities, representing targets in cancer. For example, rat model of malignant brain tumors using implantation of doxorubicin with drug eluting beads for delivery is explained. The future of pathway-driven therapies for tumors is summarized. The importance of personalizing cancer care is emphasized. The need for supportive measures for survivors of brain cancer is pointed out, so is the quality of life monitoring. The need of rehabilitation therapy for patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors is also emphasized. Role of MicroRNA in distinguishing primary tumors from metastatic primary tumors is discussed. Advantages and limitations of chemotherapy (e.g., temozolomide and doxorubicin) are discussed. The complexity of tumor to tumor transfer is explained; examples discussed are: brain metastases from breast cancer and brain metastases fro non-small cell lung carcinoma. Identification and characterization of biomarkers, including those for metastatic brain tumors, are presented. Genomic analysis for identifying clinically relevant subtypes of glioblastoma is included. A large number of imaging modalities are detailed to study progression and invasion of gliomas

Various aspects, including diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis, of two brain tumors (meningioma and schwannoma) , of brain tumors are discussed in this volume. Insights on the understanding of molecular pathways involved in brain tumor biology are explained. For example, the role of E-cadherin gene instability, carbonic anhydrase 11, urokinase plasminogen activator, and Wnt signaling is discussed in detail. Such information will lead to the development of effective aniicancer drugs. The role of molecular genetics and epigenetic mechanisms in schwannomas is explained. Also, is explained the role of cyclin D1 in vestibular schwannoma. The determination of subtypes of meningiomas using perfusion magnetic resonance imaging is explained. Diagnosis of incidentally discovered meningioma and cystic papillary meningioma is also included. Diagnosis of facial nerve schwannoma, vestibular schwannoma, and intermediate nerve schwannoma is explained. Treatments for atypical meningioma, oncocytic meneingioma, intracranial meningioma, and cavernous are presented. Therapeutic methods such as neurosurgery, Gamma knife radiosurgery, and adjuvant radiation for this cancer are included. Large number of other treatments, including radiosurgery, retrosigmoidal craniotomy, and immunotherapy, for vestibular schwannoma patients are detailed.