Malignant Brain Tumours

Malignant Brain Tumours is an excellent compendium of current thought and practice for clinicians, surgeons, and scientists. Additionally, it is an invaluable reference for graduate and post-graduate students. This book could also be used as a very comprehensive teaching text.

Klappentext

This volume covers, in a logical sequence, the brain neuroscience which underpins current management of malignant brain tumours. Cellular and molecular studies are considered, as well as current concepts of histopathological classification and grading. The clinical manifestations and natural history of these tumours is set in context by a discussion of the pathophysiology of intracranial mass lesions. Special attention is given to low-grade and childhood tumours. The more common cerebral gliomas and cerebral metastases are also examined. Diagnostic imaging methods are described and the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant tumours is explored. The final chapters are devoted to conventional and innovative methods, along with the results, of treatment by surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Inhalt
1 Cellular and Molecular Approaches to the Study of Gliomas and Glial Development.- Glial cell development in the rat optic nerve.- Control of self-renewal in the O-2A lineage.- Glial and neuronal development in the retina and cortex.- Ramifications of current development studies for neuropathology.- Potential for positive feedback loops as contributors to growth of gliomas.- Conclusion.- References.- 2 Molecular Genetics of Brain Tumours.- Genetic techniques in studies of brain tumours.- Molecular basis of tumorigenesis.- Molecular genetics of benign brain tumours.- Cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies of malignant brain tumours: gliomas.- Oncogenes and gliomas.- Molecular genetics of neuroblastomas.- Conclusion.- References.- 3 Current Concepts of the Histopathological Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System.- Tumours of neuroepithelial tissue.- References.- Colour plate section appears between pages 42 and 43.- 4 General Introduction to the Clinical Features of Malignant Brain Tumours.- Epidemiology.- Clinical presentation of primary malignant brain tumours.- Specific clinical syndromes.- Glioblastoma.- References.- 5 Complications of Primary Malignant Brain Tumours.- Complications of the tumour itself.- Complications of treatment.- References.- 6 Low-grade Gliomas.- Low-grade cerebral astrocytoma.- Neurosurgical management.- Evaluation of surgical results.- Future Considerations.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 7 Management of Brain Tumours in Childhood.- Introduction: the sites; the cells; the patients.- Primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET).- Brain stem glioma.- Craniopharyngioma.- Ependymoma.- Pineal region tumours.- Conclusion.- References.- 8 Central Nervous System Neoplasms in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.- Primary CNS lymphoma.-Systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.- Kaposi's sarcoma.- Pathogenesis of neoplasms in immune deficiency.- References.- 9 Metastatic Brain Tumours.- General aspects.- Signs and symptoms.- Investigations.- Treatment.- Outcome of treatment.- References.- 10 Diagnostic Imaging of Brain Tumours.- Detection of an abnormality.- Localization and assessment of extent of abnormality.- Characterization of a lesion.- Imaging characteristics of intrinsic tumours.- Facilitation of treatment and further surgical planning.- Monitoring of therapy and outcome of treatment.- References.- 11 Surgery for Primary Malignant Brain Tumours.- Historical introduction.- Principles of surgery.- Principles of perioperative care.- Surgical methods.- Additional surgical methods.- Surgical treatment of gliomas within a specific site.- Recent advances in surgical methods.- Results of surgery.- The case for reoperation for gliomas.- Conclusion.- References.- 12 Radiotherapy for Malignant Brain Tumours.- Biological basis of radiotherapy.- Radiation tolerance of the central nervous system.- Radiotherapy technique.- New radiotherapy techniques.- Radiotherapy in specific tumours.- Radiotherapy in other tumours: optic nerve glioma; meningioma; craniopharyngioma.- Conclusion.- References.- 13 Chemotherapy of Malignant Brain Tumour.- Summary.- Special features of chemotherapy of malignant brain tumours.- Specific treatment.- Clinical classification of malignant CNS neoplasia.- Conclusion.- Appendix I: Some abbreviations and acronyms.- References.- 14 Immunotherapy of Brain Tumours.- Brain tumour immunology: surface antigens on brain tumour; humoral immune response; cell-mediated immune response; modulation of the host immune response by gliomas.- Immunotherapy.- References.