Surgical Disorders of the Fourth Ventricle

The fourth ventricle is located in the center of the posterior cranial fossa at the base of the brain and is surrounded by extraordinarily complex structures within the brainstem and cerebellum. Operations in and around this area are perhaps the most sophisticated procedures performed by neurosurgeons, with the operator having to navigate within a narrow corridor, performing procedures on structures whose injury almost always results in devastating consequences to the patient. This volume provides a comprehensive description of what is known and what remains to be learned about lesions occurring in and around the fourth ventricle. Problems include neoplasms (tumors), vascular lesions, developmental abnormalities and infections. The book fills a void as there is not nor has there ever been a volume describing the surgery of this region. It has been dealt with in larger texts only. This volume is clinically oriented, with the main thrust being a series of how I do it chapters provided by surgeons with special expertise in each particular problem. Special emphasis will be placed on clinical and surgical pearls and special tricks which can be used in diagnostic and surgery.
Each chapter will be well referenced and well illustrated with 250 original line drawings.