Peripheral Neuropathy. Vols. 1 and 2

Peter Dyck and P. K. Thomas, eds. New York: Elsevier; 2005, 2992 pages, 690 illustrations, $395.

This large 2 volume set authored by 173 worldwide contributors is a definitive text in peripheral neuropathy. Although there are some areas of this publication that would not have direct applicability to neuroradiology, many chapters can serve as a resource for understanding diseases that we do not infrequently encounter. The second volume of the book in particular contains chapters that do relate to the practice of neuroradiology. The chapters on diseases of the cranial nerves (CN3-12) correlate anatomy, some imaging, clinical circumstances, and pathology. Of particular interest will be those sections on the brachial plexus and lumbosacral plexus, but unfortunately details of imaging these areas with appropriate MR imaging of the normal plexi are missing. Where imaging is shown in these regions the legends and labeling are not as complete or as educational as they should be. There was not a full exploration of the possibilities of peripheral neurography via MR, a field we believe will grow in usefulness in the upcoming years. Chapters of particular interest will be those dealing with hereditary, inflammatory, and immune neuropathies. Imaging is conspicuously limited or, in some places, entirely absent even in those chapters, though there are excellent pathologic descriptions of diseases such as Guillain-Barre Syndrome, CIDP, and Dejerine-Sottas. Why the authors of these various chapters did not avail themselves of imaging showing these abnormalities is a mystery. Nonetheless, for those neuroradiologists who consult and provide imaging services for an active neurology department in which patients with peripheral nerve disease are frequently seen these books can serve as reference material.

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