Edited by Andrew H Kaye and Edward Laws Jr (Pp 1052, £175). Published by Harcourt Publishers Ltd, London, 2001. ISBN 0-4430-4261

• brain tumours
• central nervous system
• neurosurgery

This is the second edition of the highly acclaimed textbook on tumours of the central nervous system written by a constellation of mainly North American and Australian neuroclinicians. In the five years between editions there have been many advances in molecular and genetic understanding of brain tumours, results from experimental and clinical trials, and major innovations in the technology used in operative neurosurgery. Unfortunately, as many of the contributing authors point out, the prognosis for many intracranial tumours remains bleak. Critical analysis of many papers shows continuing …