Escourolle and Poirier’s Manual of Basic Neuropathology is renowned for delivering clear and comprehensive insights into the key diseases affecting the nervous system. This manual is designed for healthcare professionals looking to deepen their understanding of the pathology related to neurological disorders. It assumes that readers are already familiar with fundamental concepts in neuroanatomy, histology, general pathology, and clinical neurology. Thus, it serves as an excellent introductory resource for physicians, particularly residents in specialties such as pathology, neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, as well as staff pathologists, neurologists, neuroscientists, and enthusiastic medical students exploring clinical neurosciences.
As we witness unprecedented advances in basic neuroscience, molecular biology, and genetics—areas that fundamentally influence neuropathology—the seventh edition of this manual provides crucial updates that reflect the latest molecular definitions. It focuses on the pathological features of neurological diseases, supported by extensive macroscopic illustrations and whole-brain sections, rather than emphasizing radiological images which can be found in other resources.
The progress in molecular biology and genetics has transformed the laboratory diagnosis of a wide range of neurological conditions. Today’s classification of neurologic diseases increasingly involves molecular markers, which enhances the accuracy of neuropathological categorization. In this edition, readers will find updated content on immunohistochemical identification of abnormal proteins and their atypical distributions in neuropathology. Advanced techniques like gene sequencing now allow the identification of specific gene mutations, significantly deepening our knowledge and classification of degenerative, neoplastic, and developmental diseases.
Moreover, molecular and genetic information is now vital for defining criteria in diagnosing and classifying intracranial tumors, serving as essential knowledge for neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, and radiation therapists as they work toward determining prognosis and personalizing treatment strategies. It’s important to note that the World Health Organization has also updated the classification of brain tumors in 2021, reflecting the ongoing evolution in this critical field.
