Color Atlas of Nerve Biopsy Pathology [ Active ]

Preface

This book is based on my experience with approximately 2500 nerve biopsies collected during the past 30 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Some of the cases that I did not have in my files were contributed by colleagues throughout the world.

The nerve biopsy is now a well-established procedure in the regular practice of neurology, and its processing and interpretation have become integral parts of daily practice of pathology and neuropathology. The field of nerve biopsy pathology should, therefore, no longer be regarded as novel or exotic.

This book should be useful in the everyday practice of pathologists and neuropathologists on the front lines of tissue diagnosis, as well as for neurologists who take a special interest in sural nerve biopsy pathology and neuromuscular diseases. I take great pride in the fact that this is the first nerve pathology book to introduce the diagnostic value of the extremely useful staining techniques of fresh-frozen sections. I have tried to provide all necessary practical knowledge regarding sural nerve biopsy pathology by means of a color atlas, which is based on commonly available frozen, paraffin, and semithin sections rather than on ultrastructural electron microscopy studies.

The first five chapters present basic information on nerve biopsy, including the techniques of obtaining the nerve specimen, processing and staining methods of the biopsied nerve, and specific diagnostic pathological features. The next seven chapters present information on the nerve pathology of each disease in proportion to its commonness and importance for clinical practice from a biopsy standpoint. The clinicopathological correlation is introduced through the presentation of 46 cases which illustrate its value in the daily practice of neurology.

I hope this book contains sufficient practical information on nerve pathology so that every practicing pathologist, neuropathologist, and neuromuscular disease specialist will find it an invaluable companion in his or her daily practice.