Since Bailey and Cushing (1926), all brain tumor classifications have been called histogenetic. The nosographic position that the tumor types progressively acquired in the classification systems derived from the resemblance of tumor cells to those of the cytogenesis, modified whenever new information became available from different biological research fields and especially from molecular genetics. Classically, on the basis of the rough correspondence between the mature/immature aspect of tumor cells and the benign/malignant biological behavior of the tumors, the histological labels contained a prognostic significance. The supposed origin of the tumors was thus a factor for prognosis. Later on, with the concept of anaplasia (Cox, 1933; Kernohan et al., 1949) new criteria were introduced for establishing the malignancy grades of tumors. Immunohistochemistry and later molecular genetics further refined the prognostic diagnoses, substantially increasing the opportunities to recognize the cell origin of tumors, beside revealing the pathogenetic mechanisms. Prognoses became more accurate, as required by the greater and more targeted possibilities of therapy.

Since Bailey and Cushing (1926), all brain tumor classifications have been called histogenetic. The nosographic position that the tumor types progressively acquired in the classification systems derived from the resemblance of tumor cells to those of the cytogenesis, modified whenever new information became available from different biological research fields and especially from molecular genetics. Classically, on the basis of the rough correspondence between the mature/immature aspect of tumor cells and the benign/malignant biological behavior of the tumors, the histological labels contained a prognostic significance. The supposed origin of the tumors was thus a factor for prognosis. Later on, with the concept of anaplasia (Cox, 1933; Kernohan et al., 1949) new criteria were introduced for establishing the malignancy grades of tumors. Immunohistochemistry and later molecular genetics further refined the prognostic diagnoses, substantially increasing the opportunities to recognize the cell origin of tumors, beside revealing the pathogenetic mechanisms. Prognoses became more accurate, as required by the greater and more targeted possibilities of therapy.

Analogue to the first edition, the principal characteristic of this work is its casting of pathology as the common nosographic link in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of brain tumours. A result of the author's many years of experience in the study of brain tumours and their pathological and clinical characteristics, the book presents different aspects of neurooncology from the perspective of pathology and its biological and clinical correlates. This new, second and enlarged volume preserves all the qualities of the first edition while further amplifying clinical applications and updating biological and pathological problems. The references have been completely revised and new chapters have been added on topics such as neuroimaging, invasion and angiogenesis.
Professor Schiffer is President of the Italian Association of Neurooncology and of the Italian Association of Neuropathology.

Il libro prende le mosse dai pensieri di un giovane che alla maturita liceale si trova affascinato dalla cultura dei classici greco-latini, dai rudimenti filosofici e dall impatto con le scienze fisiche e naturali. Il latino e i suoi naturalisti hanno suscitato un fervore verso la Botanica Sistematica che lo riporta a Linneo e quindi alla conoscenza del mondo naturale, all esperienza della denominazione dell esistente come conoscenza e quindi agli universali di Guglielmo d Occam. La scelta della facolta di Medicina fungera da mediazione fra la filosofia, vista come via alla verita, e la biologia con il grande mistero dell uomo nella sua dualita di mente/corpo. L incontro con il microscopio aprira la strada all approfondimento della biologia, ma anche alla ricerca dei significati e delle interpretazioni del mondo. I meccanismi della percezione, visiva in particolare, nelle articolazioni della Gestaltpsychologie, e i suoi rapporti con il mondo interiore, sia quello della memoria esplicita che della memoria implicita, sono affrontati nell esplorazione del mondo attraverso il microscopico e nella ricerca di una obiettivita scientifica. Locke e Kant, Popper e Heidegger fanno da contraltare a Ramon y Cajal, Golgi, Kandel, Heisenberg, mentre la semiotica illumina e confonde sull importanza del linguaggio per la conoscenza. Il segno e il suo riconoscimento si trasferiscono nella scienza attraverso l inter-soggettivita e il linguaggio appare come l unico modo di penetrare l esistente. Il libro si dilunga sull origine di certe denominazioni in patologia tratte dalla vita quotidiana, sull antropomorfismo spesso applicato agli oggetti del campo microscopico, sempre illustrati su base fenomenologica e psicologica.