Main description:

As an addition to the European postgraduate training system for young neurosurgeons we began to publish in 1974 this series devoted to Advances and Technical Standards in Neurosurgery which was later sponsored by the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. The fact that the English language is well on the way to becoming the international medium at European scientific conferences is a great asset in terms of mutual understanding. Therefore we have decided to publish all contributions in English, regardless of the native language of the authors. All contributions are submitted to the entire editorial board before publication of any volume. Our series is not intended to compete with the publications of original scientific papers in other neurosurgical journals. Our intention is, rather, to present fields of neurosurgery and related areas in which important recent advances have been made. The contributions are written by specialists in the given fields and constitute the first part of each volume. In the second part of each volume, we publish detailed descriptions of standard operative procedures, furnished by experienced clinicians; in these articles the authors describe the techniques they employ and explain the advantages, difficulties and risks involved in the various procedures. This part is intended primarily to assist young neurosurgeons in their post graduate training. However, we are convinced that it will also be useful to experienced, fully trained neurosurgeons.

Contents:

A. Advances.- Immunobiology of Brain Tumors.- I. The Immune System in the Central Nervous System.- II. Brain Tumor Immunology.- 1. Tumor-associated Antigens.- 2. Humoral Immune Response.- 3. Cell-mediated Immune Response.- 4. Modulation of the Host-immune Response by Gliomas.- III. Immunotherapy.- 1. Monoclonal Antibodies.- 2. Biological Response Modifiers.- 3. Adoptive Immunotherapy.- Summary and Conclusions.- References.- Adrenal Medullary Transplants as a Treatment for Advanced Parkinson's Disease.- Methods.- Results.- Discussion.- Conclusion.- References.- Stereotactic Imaging, Surgical Planning and Computer-Assisted Resection of Intracranial Lesions: Methods and Results.- Historical Background.- Volumetric Stereotaxis.- Stereotactic Resections.- Development of Stereotactic Instrumentation.- Present Instrumentation for Stereotactic Resection.- Stereotactic Frame.- Stereotactic Retractors.- Intramicroscope Graphics.- The Stereotactic Laser.- Operating Room Computer System.- Data Acquisition.- Stereotactic CT Scanning.- Stereotactic Magnetic Resonance Imaging.- Digital Angiography.- Surgical Planning.- Tumor Volume Interpolation.- Surgical Planning and Approach.- Surgical Procedures.- Superficial Lesions.- Deep Tumors.- Posterior Fossa Procedures.- Clinical Material.- General Results and Complications.- High-Grade Gliomas.- Low-Grade Gliomas.- Fibrillary Astrocytomas.- Pilocytic Astrocytomas.- Metastatic Tumors.- Vascular Lesions.- Miscellaneous Lesions.- Intraventricular Lesions.- Discussion.- References.- B. Technical Standards.- Surgical Techniques in the Management of Colloid Cysts of the Third Ventricle.- The Transcortical Approach. By L. Symon and M. Pell, Gough Cooper Department of Neurological Surgery, The National Hospital, London (U.K.).- The Interhemispheric-Transcallosal Approach. By M. G. Ya?argil, A. C. Sarioglu, T. E. Adamson, and P. Roth, Kantonsspital Zurich, Neurochirurgische Universitatsklinik, Zurich (Switzerland).- The Stereotaxic Endoscopic Approach. By Ch. B.Ostertag, Abteilung fur Stereotaktische Neurochirurgie der Universitat des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar (Federal Republic of Germany).- A Note on the Use of a Modern Endoscope. By J.Caemart and L. Calliauw, Neurosurgical Clinic, University Hospital Ghent (Belgium).- A Short Critique of the Variety of Approaches to Handle Colloid Cysts.- References.- Stabilization of the Spine.- Spinal Biomechanics.- Spinal Movements.- Pathology.- a) Trauma.- b) Infections Which Cause Deformity.- c) Tumour.- d) Degenerative Conditions.- e) Inflammatory Diseases.- f) Iatrogenic.- Spinal Stabilization.- a) Types of Stabilization.- 1. Bone Grafting.- 2. Bone Cement.- 3. Vertebral Body Replacement.- 4. Wire Fixation.- 5. Screw Fixation.- 6. Preformed Metal Implants.- 7. External Fixation.- Stabilization in Trauma.- Complex Spinal Problems.- a) Craniocervical Instability.- b) Midcervical Kyphus.- c) Cervicodorsal Pathology.- d) Thoracic Spine T 2-T 10.- e) Thoracolumbar Junction.- f) Lumbar Spine.- g) Lumbosacral Junction.- Conclusions.- References.- Indications for Surgery in the Management of Gliomas.- I. Introduction.- II. Gliomas in Brain: Local Conditions for Surgery.- 1. Surgical Anatomy of Gliomas.- 2. Surgical Anatomy of the Brain.- 3. Rationale for "Incomplete" Surgery.- III. Gliomas in Patients: Prognosis of the Disease.- 1. Histological Factors of Prognosis.- 2. Nonhistological Factors of Prognosis.- a) Clinical Findings.- b) Neuroradiological Findings.- 3. Multivariate Analysis.- IV. Results and Modalities of Surgery.- 1. Results of Surgery in Terms of Duration of Life.- 2. Functional Results.- 3. Extent of Surgery.- 4. Brain/Tumor Limits.- a) Images of the Tumor.- b) Maps of the Brain.- c) Tumor Limits. Position of Vital Structures.- 5. Is There any Credible Alternative to Surgery?.- a) Interstitial Radiotherapy.- b) Stereotactic Radiosurgery.- V. The Decision to Operate.- 1. Gathering Relevant Data.- a) Operability of the Patient.- b) Operability of the Tumor.- c) Prognosis of the Disease.- d) Pathology of the Tumor: Stereotactic Biopsy.- 2. Assigning Probabilities of Outcome.- 3. Assigning Utilities of Outcome.- 4. Strategies and Choices.- a) Defining Strategies.- b) What Treatment for what Patient?.- VI. Special Problems.- 1. Oligodendrogliomas.- 2. Ependymomas.- 3. Surgery for Recurrent Gliomas.- a) Low-grade Astrocytomas.- b) Glioblastomas and Anaplastic Astrocytomas.- VII. Conclusions.- VIII. Annex: Financial Cost of Gliomas.- References.- Author Index.