It is now more than 40 years since Drs. Wild and Reid published their first experience with rectal ultrasonography from the Surgery Department at the University of Minnesota. Professor Owen H. Wangen steen, in whose laboratory the studies were carried out, recognized at that time the need for early detection in the treatment of cancer. Technical improvements over the past 20 years have made endoscopy the procedure of choice for examination of the hollow organs of the genital, urinary and gastrointestinal tracts. The simultaneous development of endosonography has had an equally dramatic impact on the practice of medicine and surgery. The technology has been demonstrated to be helpful in both benign and malignant conditions. One of the so-called benign conditions of the anorectum is fistula-in-ano. Fistula surgery has always relied on excellent anatomic delineation of the intramuscular tracts. There is hope that adaptation of ultrasonographic technology will aid in the surgical management of this malady. Clearly, rectal ultrasonography has considerable potential in the management of rectal carcinoma. Accuracy rates in the range of 90% for the depth of neoplastic invasion have been reported. This ability for accurate assessment will undoubtedly lead to a better definition of the population of patients that can be managed by local therapeutic means.

This book is the product of long years of close collaboration between two physicians, a pediatric endocrinologist and a pediatric surgeon, who are interested in the complex field of human malformations. Their efforts have set a new standard in the treatment of children with intersexual or mal formed female genitalia. It is impossible to convey the details of complex surgical procedures without the help of meticulous illustrations. It is fortunate that happened to meet an academically trained artist, Mrs. Siri Mills, M.A., while visiting in the United States. Her excellent knowledge of anatomy, her remarkable skills as an artist and technical illustrator, and her readiness to include all details of interest to the surgeon have found their fruitful expression in the illustrations of this book. We express our thanks to Springer-Verlag and especially to Prof. Diet rich Goetze, at whose suggestion this book was written, for their amiable compliance with all our wishes, and particularly for their willingness to retain Mrs. Mills as our illustrator. Munich, May 1985 WALDEMAR HECKER Contents In trod ucti on 1 Part 1: Endocrinologic Diagnosis in Pediatric Patients with Genital Anomalies General Rules . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Endocrinology of Antenatal Sex Differentiation 6 Male Differentiation 6 Female Differentiation 7 Specific Endocrinologic Diagnosis and Therapy 8 Virilization of the Female External Genitalia 8 Congenital Adrenogenital Syndrome with a Defect of 21-Hydr- ylase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Intersexual Genitals Due to Deficient Androgenization of the Male 11 Defects of Testosterone Biosynthesis 11 Androgen Receptor Defects . . ."

In contrast to the continuously increasing success in kidney, liver, heart, and pancreas transplantation, small-bowel transplantation has not shown simi larly impressive progress until recently. The few clinical attempts at small-intestinal transplantation in the late 1960s and early 1970s were unsuccessful. In spite of these initial failures, a few groups of surgeons continued to investigate the problems of small-bowel transplantation from the technical, functional, and immunologic point of view. Now, about 15 years later, conditions have changed. Total parenteral nutrition has made tremendous progress, thus maintaining patients with short-bowel syndrome who are potential recipients of small-bowel grafts in an acceptable physical condition. Immunologists and clinicians have furt hermore been able to expand our knowledge of basic immunologic reactions induced by transplanted organs. In addition, within the last 8 years, new immunosuppressive drugs and regimens have been introduced which have proved to be extremely effective. Taking all these aspects into account, we regarded it as an extremely worthwhile and effective undertaking to invite scientists from all over the world who are working in the field of small-bowel transplantation to participate in a symposium on this topic. This meeting, the first to deal exclusively with small-bowel transplantation, was held in Kiel, West Ger many, in October 1985. Its aims were twofold: 1. ) To'stimulate direct communication between basic scientists and clini cians 2."

If a consecutive series of patients with lung cancer is followed up until the decision is made about therapy, it emerges that the role of surgery is quite small. Only a very limited proportion will ultimate ly qualify for rationally conceived surgical therapy; most patients are inoperable. In a series of 397 patients investigated at our hospi tal, 78% were inoperable on the basis of preoperative evaluation and a further 3% proved nonresectable at thoracotomy; therefore, only 19% were suitable for resection. On the other hand, surgery is still thought to offer the best, if not the only realistic chance of cure. The question "operable or not?" is therefore of vital importance for the individual patient. The answer to this crucial question must be based on valid guidelines for pa tient selection and preoperative evaluation, and it should be clearly defined what extent of resection is necessary in order to realize any curative intention. In 1972 a thorough analysis of the literature revealed that re section of bronchial carcinoma - although 40 years old - was being undertaken with very variable indications. There was hardly any systematic staging, and assessment of results was hampered by the fact that most communications in the literature were based on retrospective analysis.

This monograph, which was more than five years in preparation, represents a very detailed account of pheochromocytoma, a tumor that is almost invariably lethal if untreated. In addition to its definitive presentation of the subject, this volume contains the most cur rent information regarding the diagnosis and management of pheochromocytoma. It is im portant to reemphasize the seriousness of diagnosing and treating pheochromocytoma with the aphorism of Esperson and Dahl Iversen that although a pheochromocytoma may be morphologically benign it is physio logically malignant (280) and with Aranow's characterization of this tumor as a "veritable pharmacological bomb" (20). If managed ap propriately by a highly skilled and profes sional "bomb squad," this tumor can be re moved and the patient cured in at least 90 percent of cases. The secret lies in first sus pecting and recognizing the patient who has and then offering the ex pheochromocytoma pert management such a patient requires. These facts more than justify this publication, since the internist, pediatrician, obstetrician, ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, urologist, neurologist, surgeon, anesthesiologist, derma tologist, psychiatrist, radiologist, and also the dentist must be made acutely aware of the varied manifestations of this condition and of the pathologic entities which sometimes co- xiv Preface exist with pheochromocytoma. Furthermore, have included a large number of instructive they should have a thorough knowledge of the figures and have emphasized teaching tables."

The European School of Oncology came into existence to respond to a need for informa tion, education and training in the field of the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. There are two main reasons why such an initiative was considered necessary. Firstly, the teaching of oncology requires a rigorously multidisciplinary approach wh ich is difficult for the Univer sities to put into practice since their system is mainly disciplinary orientated. Secondly, the rate of technological development that impinges on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer has been so rapid that it is not an easy task for medical faculties to adapt their curricula flexibly. With its residential courses for organ pathologies and the seminars on new techniques (laser, monocional antibodies, imaging techniques etc.) or on the principal therapeutic controversies (conservative or mutilating surgery, primary or adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy alone or integrated), it is the ambition of the European School of Oncology to fill a cultural and scientific gap and, thereby, create a bridge between the University and Industry and between these two and daily medical practice. One of the more recent initiatives of ESO has been the institution of permanent study groups, also called task forces, where a limited number of leading experts are invited to meet once a year with the aim of defining the state of the art and possibly reaching a consensus on future developments in specific fields of oncology.

It is estimated that the functionally significant body of knowledge for a given medical specialty changes radically every 8 years. New specialties and "sub-specialization" are occurring at approximately an equal rate. Historically, established journals have not been able either to absorb this increase in publishable material or to extend their readership to the new specialists. International and national meetings, symposia and seminars, workshops, and newsletters suc cessfully bring to the attention of physicians within developing spe cialties what is occurring, but generally only in demonstration form without providing historical perspective, pathoanatomical corre lates, or extensive discussion. Page and time limitations oblige the authors to present only the essence of their material. Pediatric neurosurgery is an example of a specialty that has de veloped during the past 15 years. Over this period neurosurgeons have obtained special training in pediatric neurosurgery and then dedicated themselves primarily to its practice. Centers, Chairs, and educational programs have been established as groups of neuro in different countries throughout the world organized surgeons themselves respectively into national and international societies for pediatric neurosurgery. These events were both preceded and fol lowed by specialized courses, national and international journals, and ever-increasing clinical and investigative studies into all aspects of surgically treatable diseases of the child's nervous system."

One reason for failure to cure solid tumors by surgery appears to be the impossibility of controlling metastases that are present but latent at the time of operation. This failure is a common clinical experience with aggressive neoplasms. but it is not always appreciated in tumors with longer survival times. e. g . breast and colon cancer. In addition. recent evidence indicates that after resection of a primary tumor micrometas tases from it might be enhanced by suppression of immune and reticu loendothelial functions of the host. Other factors, such as increase of coagulability and stress in the perioperative period, can also promote tumor growth. The development of new metastases might be facilitated by cells forced into the circulation during operative manipulations. Such events could be important for the outcome of treatment and it is suggested that preventive measures should be directed to this systemic component of solid tumors. Radical surgery can reduce the number of tumor cells to a subclinical 3 6 stage (10 to 10 cells) in which chemotherapy might be more effective than in advanced stages. Chemotherapy, on the other hand, might aggravate the surgical morbidity by influencing the wound healing pro cess, by decreasing the immune response, and/or by toxicity to the bone marrow and to the gastrointestinal tract, for example."

This volume is dedicated to the Third International Symposium on Microneurosurgical Anastomoses for Cerebral Ischemia, which took place in Rottach-Egern, June 2&-30, 1976, under the sponsorship of Professor F. Marguth, Director of the Depart- ment of Neurosurgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich (West Germany). It contains the continuing devel- opments of the extra- intracranial arterial bypass (EIAB) for cerebrovascular occlusive disease since the First International Symposium in Lorna Linda, California, in June, 1973, and the Second International Symposium in Chicago, Illinois, in June, 1974. The EIAB was developed by Donaghy and Yasargil, and it consists of a microsurgical anastomosis of the superficial tem- poral artery or the occipi tal branch of the external carotid artery to the middle cerebral artery on the surface of the brain and, very recently, the anastomosis of the occipital artery to the posterior-inferior cerebellar artery for the treatment of verte- brobasilar insufficiency. From the presentations at the sym- posium it became evident that the greatest potential in the pre- vention of a stroke in a susceptible patient is the presence of an adequate collateral cerebral blood flow. The basic diagnostic procedure is cerebral angiography in- cluding both carotid and vertebral arteries. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) studies and computerized tomography add further diagnostic information and are particularly important in the selection of potential surgical candidates.

The Medicines Act 1968 together with its delegated legislation comprehensively controls the manufacture, packaging, labelling, distribution and promotion of medicines for both human and animal use in the United Kingdom. It also controls the import and export of such medicines. It replaced a patchwork of controls which evolved over a century. Since its enactment, more than 150 items of delegated legislation (orders and regulations) have been made under its provisions and about 130 are still operative. The sheer physical bulk of this mass of material causes difficulty, not only in comprehension but also in finding the detail so often required. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that some pieces of legislation have been amended several times. My principal aim is to provide a reference book which contains all of the provisions of the Act and its various orders, regulations as amended to date. The material is arranged to facilitate the search for detail. In order to assist the reader in finding his way through this maze, Chaper 1 consists of a survey of the situation which existed before the Act came into being, together with a synopsis of the present controls. This should enable the reader to appreciate the changes which have occurred and how the system works.

In 1968 the first contacts were arranged with the publishing house of Urban & Schwarzenberg concerning the establishment of a periodical to be produced in English with the aim of publishing important scientific work in pediatric surgery and related disciplines. I thought especially of certain excellent inaugural disser tations and theses. When Urban & Schwarzenberg promised to start such a series, I recruited Peter Rickham, then in Liverpool and now in Zurich, and Jean Prevot of Nancy as executive editors. We chose the title Progress in Pediatric Surgery - Fortschritte del' Kinderchirurgie - Acquisitions en Chirurgie Enfantile as the name of our new series. The first volume was published in 1970, followed by another 16 volumes during the next 14 years. At the suggestion of Michael Urban, we turned from the publication of long papers to theme-based volumes, which proved to be extraordinarily useful. Mr. Urban, the head of Urban & Schwarzenberg, told us in 1982 that his firm could no longer look after Progress in Pediatric Surgery. With the agreement of Mr. Urban, we had to look for another' publisher and found Springer-Verlag, who agreed to continue publishing Progress in Pediatric Surgery in the approved lay-out. We cordially thank Dietrich G6tze of Springer-Verlag for his helpful support. This volume (No. 18) is the first of Progress in Pediatric Surgery to appear under the guidance of Springer-Verlag. We want to express our thanks to Mr. Urban and Dr."

Trauma to the abdomen, both accidental and willful, has become increasingly common in this era of increasing violence. Large numbers of patients all over the country are admitted to emergency rooms because of abdominal trauma of varying degrees of severity. All too often the correct diagnosis is suspected belatedly or not at all, so that proper treatment is not initiated in sufficient time to be lifesaving. Not infre quently, the injured patient is examined by an intern or an insufficiently experienced resident physician. Even in instances where more senior internists and surgeons are available, detailed knowledge about the necessary methodology to establish the correct diagnosis and institute the appropriate treatment is lacking. This monograph, representing the felicitous collaboration of a surgeon and a radiolo gist together with several other contributors, is timely and important. The authors (and their contributors) have approached their subject with a wealth of clinical experi ence obtained in several very active acute-care municipal hospitals in the largest city in this country. They have observed and treated a very large number of patients with a multitude of traumatic causes, including firearm injuries, stab wounds, vehicular accidents, falls, and assaults. The authors have divided this work into four main sections: General Perspectives on Abdominal Injury, Types of Abdominal Injuries, Specific Diagnostic Techniques, and Specific Organ or Supporting-Structure Injury."

For a long time, approximately since Oberlin and Guerin described the multifocal origin of pancreatic cancers and precancerous pancreatic lesions, no important study dealing with the entire subject of pancreatic cancer has been published in France and probably in the international literature. For some decades the knowl- edge acquired 40years or more ago was not improved appreciably, though the fre- quency ofthe disease started to increase in occidental countries. This has recently changed, and the progress ofthe medical sciences has spread to the pancreas. Although the surgical or medical prognosis of the most frequent form of pancreatic cancer, exocrine adenocarcinoma, remains very bad, recent studies have shown the multiplicityofits pathological forms, some being less severe so that curative surgery is possible. New experimental models, particularly in the hamster, and the use of carcinogenic drugs allow experimental studies on lesions similar to those in man. Oncologic immunology is still at its beginnings but shows promise for diagnosis and treatment. Though modem techniques of imaging - sonography, aspirative cytology, CT scan, endoscopic catheterism, arteriography, and maybe in the future nuclear magnetic resonance - have not yet significantly in- fluenced prognosis,they have made the diagnosis easierand more precocious. Yet in a diseasethat diffuses so rapidly to deep lymph nodes, it has not been proved whether early diagnosis can improve prognosis.

The first edition of Surgery of the Hip Joint has had certain measures of success. Its cover won the Outstanding A ward for art at a publishers trade show. A year later it was translated into Spanish for exposure to the vast world of the Spanish speaking peoples. As I traveled through Europe, it was repeatedly a pleasant surprise to have the book recognized as an authoritative reference. This was a great tribute to the experts whose diligent efforts made it all possible. Apparently the book has stood the test of time to judge from the many inquiries and constructive comments made toward urging us on to write a second edition. It was not an easy task to gather another cadre of authorities to update our knowledge of the hip joint. People who have earned respected positions in their field are unavoidably burdened with a busy schedule, so a chapter in this text must be appreciated as coming from someone devoted to giving up some of his precious time for the sake of sharing his knowledge with peers and students. As we struggled along, it became obvious that the book should be divided into three volumes, because outdated concepts had to be scrapped if an up-to-date text were to be offered. Time passed so rapidly that total hip arthroplasties would not become stabilized because of a never-ending parade of implant designs with increasing bioengineering considerations.

Preclinical experimental transplantation research that is based on microsurgical models in rats fulfills two indispensable conditions for modern organ transplanta tion research: Almost all organ grafts can be performed on the rat with an amount of technical effort that is still justifiable. Thus transplantation models that are analogous to human organ transplantation can be developed, tested, and evaluated. This fulfills a necessary condition from the standpoint of surgery. With the species rat, we have a great variety of genetically different inbred strains. From the immunological point of view this is an indispensable prerequisite for the investigation of preclinical transplantation models that can be expected to produce controllable, reproducible results. In vivo experimental results can be supplemented by and correlated to in vitro tests. Lately these experimental results are being greatly expanded and more precisely defined by the application of immunohistological methods that have been established recently in Kiel. In this book we hope to present a cross section of the microsurgical models in use today and of current immunological and immunohistological models. Furthermore, we wish to record the present state of microsurgical organ transplantation research and to show its relationship to the current state and development of clinical organ transplantation. A special aspect of our Kiel research group is the long-term, well-functioning, interdisciplinary cooperation between surgery, immunology, and pathology. Through this cooperation we attempt to provide an atmosphere in which theoretical and practical viewpoints can mutually influence each other."

The interrelated syndromes of shock and the adult respiratory distress to attract the attention of both clinical and syndrome (ARDS) continue laboratory scientists. This reflects both the size of the problem and its unresponsiveness to current lines of treatment. Doubtless, a greater appreciation of the underlying pathophysiological disturbances during the past two decades has led to appropriate action and increased survival in the early stages but once established these syndromes have remained remarkably immune to a wide spectrum of therapeutic modalities. This observation stresses the importance of prevention but also indicates the need for continued research into the nature of the established syndromes and the means whereby they may be reversed. Drs Kox and Bihari are to be congratulated on bringing together within the covers of this volume many of the acknowledged European experts in these two fields of investigation. Each author has provided an up-to-date account of his current experimental and clinical research, and their com bined contributions makes fascinating reading. Undoubtedly, these are exciting times in the development of understanding of shock and ARDS. Inevitably, more questions are raised than answers provided, but the accumulated knowledge presented here adds significantly to our under standing of this complex biological jigsaw. From this corporate endeavour will come the clinically useful developments of the future and with them the ultimate hope that the term 'refractory' shock may be finally removed from our vocabulary.

There has been incredible progress over the last decade in therapeutic endoscopy. Such therapies are either easier now than ten years ago or are possible when previously they were inconceivable. These advances have depended upon major improvements in diagnostic endoscopy for different subspecialties. Simultaneously, a major innovation for therapeutics through endoscopes is the application of medical lasers. This book is written by renowned biophysicists and laser endoscopists of different sub specialties where the application of lasers has revolutionized medical care. In some cases treatments which were not previously possible are now routine. Laser palliation of obstructing tumors in different sub specialties is an example of this. In other cases, resective surgery is obviated by the application of lasers via endoscopy such as for the control of gastrointestinal bleeding. The authors of different medical or surgical subspecialties which use endoscopic lasers write about the pathology and clinical problems, their personal experience and results. However, they also emphasize their techniques of laser endoscopy through case examples, technical discussions, and colored illustrations. Their discussions will give the reader a better understanding about the role of laser treatment of different conditions compared to routine medical or surgical therapy. In several instances, randomized controlled trials involving medical lasers were discussed in this book because they fundamentally changed our understanding of common problems such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We predict continued progress in therapeutic endoscopy.

An International Conference on "Neurosurgical Training and Reserach" was held in Munich from October 6 - 9, 1996, under the auspices of the EANS, and organized by H.-J. Reulen and H.-J. Steiger. Experts from different countries and neurosurgical organizations have collected information on the present status of resident training in neurosurgery and the mechanisms involved with the training. Various aspects, the recruitment process, the criteria used for selection, the contents and structure of a program, the continuous quality control, exposition to the art of research, fellowships and subspeciality training, etc. have been covered. The present book contains this material and thus provides a unique and comprehensive source of information on the complex of modern neurosurgical training. " ... The beauty of this work is that it puts in one place the many varied aspects of a neurosurgical training program that one needs to be aware of ... should be required reading for the faculty of any academic training program as well as for others who may have a misconception of what residency training is ... an excellent book for any program director or active faculty member. It should be required reading for all faculty members before the next round of resident interviews ..." Neurosurgery "... well edited, published to a high standard and will naturally be of interest to those specifically involved in the areas of selection and training ... a useful text for aspirants to surgical training posts ..." British Journal of Neurosurgery

This volume describes a new direction in technological and biomedical developments for profoundly deaf individuals. The first section covers topics of tissue characteristics, such as responses to electrical stimulation and computer modelling of cochlea currents. Perception of acoustic signals, responses and behavioral pattern as well as psychophysical aspects are treated in the second part. Part III is addressed to perspectives and challenges of encoding schemes. Reports on studies of acoustic and electrical encoding of temporal information, speech features with cochlear implants as well as psychophysical and speech perceptual studies will allow further strategies for cochlea implants.

Recent Advances in Coloproctology provides a thorough overview of modern developments in the surgical treatment of disorders of the lower intestine including ulcerative colitis/severe acute colitis, Crohn's disease, carcinomas, haemorrhoids and anal incontinence. Recognizing that the surgeon does not work in isolation, the book also integrates recent progress in imaging techniques for the anal canal and rectum, and highlights medico-legal considerations in separate chapters. Aimed at current practitioners and trainees, Recent Advances in Coloproctology discusses key concepts that will assist general surgeons and colorectal consultants in their management of patients with a broad spectrum of anorectal and colonic disorders. With a problem-oriented slant, this book is essential reading for all those with interest in coloproctology.

Pancreatic Disease: Towards the Year 2000 provides a clear picture of the current research activity in pancreatic disease and its related basic science. Experts currently contributing to advances in understanding and treatment have provided concise and clear reviews of their subject. Each contribution summarises the relevant literature and describes recent advances whilst highlighting those areas where current research will impinge on clinical practice in the next few years. The reader will find in this book all the latest material related to pancreatic disease, cancer, acute and chronic pancreatitis and a number of other topics including transplantation and the relationship between endocrine and exocrine disease and cystic fibrosis. The book will supplement existing texts and will be of value to practising specialists who deal with pancreatic disease as well as specialist trainees in surgery and medical gastroenterology.

It is an honour and a pleasure to welcome you all at this 20th annual International Symposium on Blood Transfusion in the Netherlands. This year you celebrate its 20th anniversary and I congratulate the Staff of the Blood Bank Noord Nederland and especially Dr. Smit Sibinga for this great achievement. As most of you know, the name of the person of Dr. Smit Sibinga is unbreakably con nected with the annual symposium in Groningen which he has organized each year from the very start, 20 years ago. The reputation of any symposium depends heavily on the quality of the lectures. I think it is not possible to organize 20 symposia in a row if the topics lack actual relevance and the speakers are not of excellent reputation. Dr. Smit Sibinga has proven to have a keen eye for selecting interesting themes and eminent speakers. Although a lot of different topics have been dealt with in the past 20 years, which each attracted the attention of a different group in the field of blood transfusion, it is not surprising that after a tradition of 20 years several speakers but also a lot of attendees are not for the first time in Groningen to participate in this event. It gives the symposium a unique atmosphere of intimacy. It is not hard to admit that most of the newer developments in transfusion medicine take place outside the Netherlands."

Varicose veins are a very common problem. The precise aetiology of primary varicose veins remains unclear. It seems likely from the available evidence that inherited structural weakness combined with haemodynamic or microcirculatory abnormalities eventually lead to reduced vein wall elasticity, dilatation and the formation of varicosities. Increasing age, female gender, parity and occupation may all promote the development of varicose veins in susceptible individuals. Further clinical and experimental studies are necessary if the relative contribution of each of these factors is to be fully elucidated. References 1. Editorial. The treatment of varicose veins. Lancet 1975;ii:311. 2. Prerovsky I. Diseases of the veins. World Health Organisation, internal communication, MHO-PA 10964. 3. Weddell JM. Varicose veins: pilot study. Br J Surg 1969;23:179-186. 4. Hobsley M. Pathways in surgical management. 2nd ed. London: Edward Arnold, 1986. 5. Browse NL, Burnand KG, Lea Thomas M. Diseases of the veins. London: Edward Arnold, 1988. 6. Logan WPD, Brooke EM. The survey of sickness. Studies on medical and population subjects no. 12. London: General Register Office, 1957. 7. The committee on the Danish national morbidity survey. The sickness survey of Denmark. Copenhagen, 1960. 8. US Department of Health. Education and welfare: national health survey 1935-1936. Washington, DC, 1938. 9. The Department of National Health and Welfare and the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. Illness and health care in Canada. Canadian Sickness Survey 1950-1951. Ottawa, 1960.

Posttraumatic cerebral contusions, lacerations and hematomas in the past could often only be suspected by clinical symptomatology and be visualized by angiography in a restricted manner, but they are now diag nosed with precision through CT and MRI; they remain in the limelight in our daily management of severe head injuries. Stalhammar's longlasting research in biomechanics is he re condensed in a concise review of the current knowledge in this field, thus providing the basis for our understanding of the parenchymal cerebral posttraumatic lesions. The neuropathological investigations and findings remain fundamental to the clinical features, and in this text there is the advantage that they were carried out and interpreted by a very experienced neurasurgeon, Ion Oprescu, who most regretfully died before the completion of this volume. The special morphological and clinical investigations by Nakamura, concerning diffuse brain injury, contribute to our necessary diagnosis and treatment of this phenomenon where, without grass visible lesions of cerebral tissue, a high mortality occurs. The clinical features, the princip1es of therapy and the outcome are described by Vigouroux and Guillermain, whose clinical study clearly demonstrates the limitations of all our efforts in severe brain injuries, in spite of decades of clinical experience and research."