THE BRAIN

Abstract

This book takes an unusual approach to neuroectodermal tumours in that it is devoted almost entirely to their macroscopic features and their microscopical appearances in silver carbonate preparations. It is, therefore, of some academic interest, but unfortunately no attempt has been made to relate the patterns described to those based on more conventional and much more widely used histological techniques. It is only the classification adopted that can account for as much space being devoted to astroblastoma as to glioblastoma. The authors have clearly made a most detailed study of silver carbonate preparations from neuroectodermal tumours but, although it is stated repeatedly that this technique allows a much more accurate identification of cell types than the conventional techniques used by most neuropathologists, it is difficult to accept the many dogmatic statements unsupported by tangible evidence or logical argument. The book is prolifically illustrated (this may partly compensate for the brevity of the gross descriptions of the tumours), but many are repetitive. As the standard of illustrations in general is high, it is surprising that the book contains a few of unusually poor quality. It is interesting to note the application of phase contrast techniques to silver carbonate preparations, and the chapter on techniques may be of value to a few, but this book is not lilkely to be of much practical use to clinicians or pathologists. J. HUME ADAMS