With the exploding progress we are experiencing in the field of lasers in neurosurgery it was felt that a new volume devoted to lasers in neurosurgery is needed. As opposed to other early laser publications which were limited to North American contributors we have decided to publish Lasers in Neurosurgery which presents the findings of neurosurgeons from throughout the world. The decision to publish all contributions in English, regardless of the native language of the author, makes Lasers in Neurosurgery truly a forum for international neurosurgeons. Our intent is to make available the findings of international neurosurgeons, which are frequently published in less fa­ miliar languages, to neurosurgeons beyond the boundaries of the authors' countries. We hope that neurosurgeons not only in North America and Europe, but throughout the world, will profit by Lasers in Neurosurgery. November 1988 Edward F. Downing, M. D. , F. A. C. S. Contents FRANK, F. : Basic Physics and Biophysics 1 TEW JR. , J. M. , TOBLER, W. D. , ZUCCARELLO, M. : The Treatment of Arteriovenous Malformations of the Brain with the N- dymium: YAG Laser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 CLARK, W. C. , ROBERTSON, J. H. : Laser Resection of Meningiomas 49 ASCHER, P. W. : Tumours on and in the Pons and Medulla oblongata 69 NEBLETT, C. R. : Reconstructive Vascular Neurosurgery: Micros- gical CO Laser Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 2 CRONE, K. R. , BERGER, T. S. , TEW JR. , J. M. : Laser Applications in Pediatric Neurosurgery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .