Abstract
This book, which appeared in 2008, is the first publication to deal solely with magnetic resonance image-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS). This technique is also known as MR-guided HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound). It is a multi-author text, with contributors coming from the main centres currently practising this technique clinically.
Twenty-nine authors have contributed to 15 chapters. After an introductory chapter (Jolesz and Hynynen), five chapters deal with the physical aspects of MRgFUS: fundamental principles of therapeutic ultrasound (Hynynen), MR thermometry (Stafford and Hazle), experimental uses of the technique (McDannold), delivery systems (Hynynen and McDannold) and treatment planning (Clement). The five following chapters outline the clinical applications, including specialist chapters on breast (Gombos and Kacher), uterine fibroids (Hanstede, Stewart and Tempany) and brain (Hynynen and Jolesz). The remaining chapters discuss the currently research-based topics of targeted drug delivery (Kinoshita), blood–brain barrier opening (McDannold and Hynynen), gene delivery (from the MRgFUS group in Bordeaux headed by Moonen) and ultrasound-induced apoptosis (Vykhodtseva and Kinoshita).
This is undoubtedly a useful authoritative introductory text to MRgFUS, written by experts in the field, and would be a valuable addition to the library of those using, or considering using, the technique. The introductory physics chapters are well-presented and should be easily understood by the non-expert. The clinical chapters provide a useful introduction to what is possible with MRgFUS, but the rigid adherence to only describing treatments carried out under MR guidance denies access to the more extensive clinical evidence obtained using ultrasound-guided FUS. This may be considered a weakness of the book. The more speculative research chapters at the end (with the exception of that on the blood–brain barrier) have undoubted relevance to ultrasound-guided therapies as well. In such a new and rapidly advancing field, it seems strange that a book published in 2008 should contain only one reference published in 2007, and indeed very few published in 2006. This omission means that the book may well become out of date rather rapidly, especially those chapters dealing with clinical application.
