Wolfgang Seeger: Standard variants of the skull and brain—an atlas for neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists

Abstract

With the increasing quality of neuroimaging and modern neuronavigation, we neurosurgeons sometimes might feel that classical anatomical knowledge seems to lose some importance. The present publication helps us to understand that this feeling is definitely not correct. Professor Wolfgang Seeger once more has created a wonderful book on the most important skull and brain variants that are important to us. The book, which is not only designed in black and white, but is nicely illustrated with colour figures, leads us in five chapters through the various anatomical regions of the human skull and brain. In some instances the book uses phylogenetic and ontogenetic explanations to help the reader better understand the varying human anatomy. The book exhibits rare and frequent variants that some colleagues might consider to be irrelevant. However, even rare anatomical variants are of interest, particularly for structures that we touch during many of our routine clinical cases. An example of such an important region is the pterional area where a whole variety of rare and frequent bone and soft tissue variants are listed, which should be known by anybody who uses the pterional approach. In the five chapters of the book, the venous variants, particularly of the inner venous system, are illustrated as well as a variety of superficial relatively common bony variants that are designed in fantastic drawings. The last chapter is dedicated to variants of the posterior fossa. It nicely shows us the most important and rare anatomical variants of this region such as the variants of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) or a doubled 12th nerve canal. The knowledge of all the variants listed and illustrated by Professor Seeger is highly useful for all neurosurgeons who are specialised in brain and skull base surgery. For these colleagues the present book earns a “must be read” and deserves a priority place in the book shelf. Neurosurg Rev (2007) 30:163 DOI 10.1007/s10143-006-0064-2