Synopsis
Revised to incorporate the latest advances in the neurosciences and clinical neurology, the Seventh Edition of this classic text provides practical, cost-effective problem-solving approaches to all diseases affecting the developing nervous system. In clinically relevant terms, the book explains how recent developments in molecular biology, genetics, neurochemistry, neurophysiology, neuropathology, and neuroimaging impact on diagnosis and treatment.
Chapters focus on specific disorders or groups of disorders and emphasize differential diagnosis, disease course, treatment, and prognosis. This edition has a new chapter on mitochondrial cytopathies.
Michael E. Cohen
In this multiauthored, comprehensive book a multitude of topics are covered to encompass the clinical field of neurology. This is the sixth edition of a well-recognized standard textbook of child neurology. The material covered is more authoritative and comprehensive than that found in previous editions. The purpose, as stated by the editors, is to blend neuroscience with clinical neurology. They attempt to reduce the complex features of molecular biology, genetics, neurochemistry, neurophysiology, and neuropathology into a system of thought that allows the clinician to apply this knowledge to the diagnosis, cure, and treatment of children with neurologic disease. For the most part, the editors fulfill that goal in this new edition. The chapters on perinatal, asphyxia, trauma, paroxysmal disorders, neuroembryology, and metabolic diseases of the nervous system are particularly useful. The basic science discussion in these chapters is an illustration of the editors' goals and how they are fulfilled. Unfortunately, in other sections (i.e., genetics) the editors fail to lucidly weave basic science into the clinical discussion. Although not stated, the intent is to provide an authoritative text for medical students, neurology and pediatric residents, adult and child neurologists, pediatricians, and child psychiatrists. Each chapter is accompanied by a multitude of references, which are both current and of historical interest. All healthcare providers with a serious interest in child neurology can reliably turn to this book as a comprehensive and authoritative reference. The co-editors are well recognized and highly respected authorities in child neurology. Most of the contributorsare well recognized, but some are more junior and less well known. This book consists of 16 chapters and has been expanded from previous editions. There is more attention paid to neuroembryology, paroxysmal disorders, trauma, and physical disease . The section on genetic disease is particularly weak. Diseases are listed but little detailed information is collected in one place regarding such basic concepts as triplicate repeats, disomy, loss of heterozygosity, and western and southern blots. Some terms, although discussed in chapter 3, are not well defined. The chapters on metabolic disease, perinatal disease, trauma, and neuroembryology continue to represent the major strengths of this edition. This continues to be one of the few major textbooks exclusively devoted to child neurology. As stated by Dr. Menkes in the preface, the addition of Harvey Sarnat as a co-editor greatly enhances the chapters on neuroembryology, muscle disease, and neonatal neurology. The references are extensive; many have historical interest while others are quite current. The book is attractively formatted, is well referenced, and comprehensively indexed. The quality of the illustrations is excellent. The expertise of the senior authors is readily apparent in the chapters coauthored by them. Unfortunately, the tables and illustrations are at times confusing and only indirectly related to the textual content. Neuroimages do not have arrows pointing to highlighted features and legends can be confusing. Despite this caveat, the book, in my opinion, continues to be a major referral source for all those interested in child neurology. It belongs in the library of every practicing child neurologist and pediatrician. This is a reference source which should be utilized by anyone with an interest in diseases of the central nervous system.