Intracranial Metastases: Current Management Strategies [Hardcover]

Raymond Sawaya (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 14, 2004

• This is the first comprehensive textbook on intracranial metastases in over 20 years with an update on current methods for their management, including the use of newer technologies.
  
  
• Each of the various histological types of cancer metastasizing to the brain is presented separately in a detailed analysis and discussion.
  
  
• This volume includes a consideration of the epidemiology of brain metastases and the quality of life in patients who have them.
  
  
• Special topics not previously covered are reviewed, including metastasis to the skull base and strategies for preventing cancer from metastasizing to the brain.
  
  
• A novel feature is a chapter devoted to the use of recent techniques such as functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, MR spectroscopy (metabolite mapping), and dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging (regional cerebral blood volume mapping) to characterize brain metastases in terms of the sensorimotor perturbations they produce, their metabolic response to therapy, and their degree of vascularization, respectively.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Intracranial metastases are the commonest cerebral tumours. Until now, no effort has been made to summarise our knowledge of intracranial metastases in the English language.

This title aims to fill the gap. Intracranial Metastases is a multiauthored text by some of the best experts working in each of the subject areas covered. The text is usefully divided into four main sections. In the first section the biology, pathology, epidemiology, and neuroimaging of intracranial metastases are illustrated and thoroughly discussed. Of particular note is the first chapter on the history of treatment for intracranial metastases. In the second section the different treatment options are analysed. New treatments are brought into focus, especially those not used by most physicians who routinely treat patients with intracranial metastases (ie, the treatment of intracranial multiple metastases). The third section—of most interest for the treating physician—describes the metastatic disease in relation to the primary cancer. As a matter of fact, the clinical course of intracerebral metastasis is determined, even if only temporarily, by the type of primary tumour. Of particular interest is the chapter on leptomeningeal localisation, which is a common cause of controversy in the management and treatment of intracranial metastases. In the last section, metastasis localised in the cranial base and the neuropsychological features of the disease are explained together with a clear-cut conclusion of the text on management guidelines and decision-making. In brief, the publication of this book is long overdue, and Intracranial Metastases should be considered a reference text for family physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, oncologists, and radiotherapists. It is concise but exhaustive. This manual has all the essential information for a correct management and therapy of this pathology. If there is one pitfall to this summary, I would say that the bibliography is not always accurately updated. This publication clearly delineates which patients should be treated and for how long, and will be important in helping physicians to avoid the overtreatment of patients. Furthermore, this book may encourage treating physicians to increase the number of patients they treat. Some of these patients will benefit from a few more months of good quality of life and some others who have germinal metastasis may even be cured. I personally like the short summaries at the end of each chapter, which bring into focus what has been read before and give a concise precis of the argument. The editor has nicely coordinated a board of experienced authors who have excellently used the knowledge and experience that they have acquired in their professional lives.

Maurizio Salvati

From the Back Cover

Edited by Raymod Sawaya with contributions from leaders in the fields of neurosurgery and neuro-oncology, Intracranial Metastases: Current Management Strategies is the first comprehensive textbook on intracranial metastases in over 20 years, with an update on current methods for their management, including the use of newer technologies. Each of the various historical types of cancer metastasizing to the brain is presented separately in a detailed analysis and discussion.

• Includes a considerations of the epidemiology of brain metastases and the quality of life in patients who have them.


• Special topics not previously covered are reviewed, including metastasis to the skull base and strategies for preventing cancer from metastasizing to the brain.
  
• A novel feature is a chapter devoted to the use of recent techniques such as functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, MR spectroscopy (metabolite mapping), and dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging (regional cerebral blood volume mapping) to characterize brain metastases in terms of the sensorimotor perturbations they produce, their metabolic response to therapy, and their degree of vascularization, respectively.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (June 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405116463
• ISBN-13: 978-1405116466
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,766,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)