The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Perusal \Pe*rus"al\, n. [From Peruse.]
   1. The act of carefully viewing or examining. [R.] --Tatler.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The act of reading, especially of reading through or with
      care. --Woodward.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

perusal
    n 1: reading carefully with intent to remember [syn: perusal,
         perusing, poring over, studying]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

39 Moby Thesaurus words for "perusal":
   application, boning, brainwork, check, conning, contemplation,
   cram, cramming, drill, engrossment, examination, exercise,
   extensive study, grind, grinding, headwork, inspection,
   lucubration, mental labor, overhaul, overhauling, perlustration,
   practice, quality control, reading, restudy, restudying, review,
   run-through, scan, scanning, scrutiny, study, studying, subject,
   survey, swotting, visitation, wide reading