Brain Tumor Pathology: Current Among Others) Are Not Discussed

Published September 18, 2007 as 10.3174/ajnr.A0679

lary hemangioblastoma, gliomatosis cerebri, and chordoid gli- BOOK REVIEW oma of the third ventricle). Other than meningiomas, non- neuroectodermal tumors (ie, schwannomas and chordomas, Brain Tumor Pathology: Current among others) are not discussed. Chapters on tumor cell mi- Diagnostic Hotspots and Pitfalls gration and invasion, apoptosis, the ubiquitin proteasome sys- tem, and angiogenesis round out this volume. D. Schiffer, ed. New York: Springer; 2006, 272 pages, 151 illustra- Advantage is taken of the evolving field of molecular genet- tions, $129.00. ics, intracellular signaling mechanisms, and conventional im- his monograph by an accomplished neuropathologist is munohistochemical methods to arrive at a histopathologic di- Tcentered largely on contemporary difficulties encountered agnosis. The details provided using these methods are a major in the histopathologic diagnosis of brain tumors. Particularly emphasis of this book and are of exceptional value. useful are his approaches to oligodendrogliomas and their All of the microphotographs are in black and white; most of anaplastic variants; distinctions among mixed astro-oligoden- these are satisfactory. For the uninitiated, however, some of drogliomas, pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA), and ju- the photographs might be challenging, because there are no venile pilocytic astrocytoma; ependymoma and its anaplastic arrows depicting items mentioned in the legends. The latter variant; differentiation of ganglioglioma from oligodendrogli- occasionally suffers from terseness, as at times it is unclear oma, dysembryoplastic neu- what is being illustrated. The addition of normal controls, es- roepithelial tumor, cortical pecially with immunohistochemical photographs, would have dysplasias, PXA, and juvenile been helpful. The photomicrographs are occasionally comple- pilocytic astrocytoma; and pit- mented by MR imagings and CT scans. falls in overinterpreting ana- This readable monograph is highly recommended to sur- plastic features in the latter gical pathologists. It is likely to be of lesser value and interest to tumor. the neuroradiologist. For neuroradiologists interested in his- The author also covers topathology, especially with imaging correlations, other texts newly identified neoplasms: might be more suitable. On the other hand, discussions on liponeurocytoma, rosette- glioneurogenesis, molecular genetics, growth factors, stem forming glioneuronal tumor, cells, and intracellular signaling mechanisms involved in the

and chordoid glioma, as well neoplastic process, along with extensive bibliographic annota- REVIEWS BOOK as neoplasms of uncertain tions, should be of great interest and value to students of nosology, derivation, and neuro-oncology. growth (astroblastoma, capil- DOI 10.3174/ajnr.A0679