DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS

Abstract

DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS Edited by Jerry R. Mendell, John T. Kissel and David R. Cornblath 2000. New York: Oxford University Press Price £130. pp. 718. ISBN 0195133013 This is another excellent text in the Contemporary Neurology series. It follows on from Disorders of the Peripheral Nerves (2nd edition) and, whereas the latter focused on particular neuropathies, this updated publication, as its title suggests, is more encompassing. The contributors and editors are to be congratulated on producing a comprehensive and up‐to‐date textbook which is eminently readable. The text is interspersed with informative tables, good quality clinical and histological photographs and exceptionally clear line drawings and illustrations. A few words on the structure and some aspects of the contents of the book, which is divided into two parts: Part 1 (141 pages of text) covers clinical assessment and various laboratory tests used to investigate a neuropathy. When outlining neurophysiology and autonomic function tests, informative clinical case studies are discussed, and perhaps more cases could have been presented as they clearly delineate the helpfulness and limitations of these tests. The chapter on ‘Peripheral Nerve and Skin Biopsies’ has high quality pathological photographs and again utilises well chosen clinical cases. It emphasises the fact that a nerve biopsy is to be carried out to answer specific questions relating to the neuropathy and is not to be used as a screening test. The choice of …