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Cancer
Reviews Abstracts
Reviews of new books
Amino
Acids and Peptides With Antimetabolic Activity. By G. I?. W. Wolstenholmc~ and the
Cecilia M. O’Connor, editors Ciba Foundation. 286 pages,
t,arcinogenesis in which he clearly points out 4ome of the fundamental considerations of the biology and cnvironmrntal phenomena related to cancer. An understanding of the future of
~III 28
illustrations. Boston, 1958, Little, BITWII & Company. $8.75. This volume is essentially thch trausactions of thf, Ciba Foundation Symposium hold in London. England, March 18-20, 1958. On this occasion. 29 participants presented papers n&ted to the stll,jcct of amino acids and pcptidcs with antimetaf)olic and cytotoxic propt,rtk’;. Although 1IIP majority of the presentaCour we highlv technical and require advanced 1)iochemiral knowledge for interpretation, there i< :I tr~nsidrrable amount of \~aluable clinical infornlntion noted here and there.
chemotherapy is readilyobtained by the reader ;tftt‘r perusal of J. N. IIavidson’s rxcellrnt SWrican OII c,hellliczl nlechanisms of normal and ahuurmal ~11 division as well as -4. G. Griffin’s portrayal of I)ioc.h~~mistry of cancer induction. A< in the later volumc~s, the editor has wisely uvcr-all effect is ant’ of a rather superficial and incompl<,te covc~ragc~ of thr subject. This is par-
Cnfortunately, neither the index uor the title\ s(‘rvt: 3s an aid for the reader iu discovering thiz without plodding through a nlaze of chemical formulas and cellular biolo,q:) . Cancer.
ticularly true of Magnus Haines’ chapter on utcarus, ovary, Fallopian tube, vagina. and vulva. I towcver, G. ,J. (Cunningham has an informative, presentation on the q,nrral pathology of malignant tumors. In \‘c~lurnt~ :i. the editor, with thcs 2ssisCancc of twrnt) -t\vo contributors, covers hdditional pathological nspccts of cancer includiug gctrgraphy, occupaliou, edrlcatiou, and dtstect ior). This include\ a \‘t*r) instructive discussion l)v II<<% l.a and :flt cquallv i&rrmti\.c~ I)r,.sentation of t311-
Edited by Ronald W. liavcv~. Volurt~c~~ I to .&, 2,280 pages, 231 tables, 78’1 figures. London, 19.58, ButterM trrth B Ch..
I,td.
?$18.00
per
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614
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Book Reviews
tween the gynecologist and radiotherapist to decide on the best method of treatment. It is interesting to note that he encourages the conservative approach to younger patients with carcinoma in situ of the cervix. This reviewer was impressed with Howkins’ insistance on a fractional curettage to determine the exact site and extent of carcinoma of the endometrium because he believes a simple total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is inadequate when there is invasion of the isthmus or cndocervix. Douglas MacLeod’s coverage of malignant tumors of the ovary and Fallopian tubes is very superficial as well exemplified by his coverage of chemotherapy in four lines: “Regression may occur in some of the advanced ol*.arian tumors with chemotherapy. For example, chlorambucil is used in doses up to 10 nnlligrams daily, for a period of 1 month. During this period the hemoglobin, leucocytes and platelets are checked weekly.” The malignant tumors of the vulva, vagina, and female urethra are similarly presented by H. H. Francis. Although this reviewer has pointed out several areas of weakness in the material presented in the four volumes of Cancer. this should not he construed as a reluctance to praise Ronald Raven and his collaborators for a very excellent contribution to medical literature. On the contrary, Cancer is a monumental work that can he appreciated only by the individual with the time and interest to peruse its entire contents. As Ronald Raven states in the preface, future progress may change the prominence of certain subjects covered in Cancer. In the interim, this shall serve as an excellent reference publication and a “strong foundation on which a superstructure can be erected in the future.” Atlas of Roentgenographic Positions. By Venita Merrill. Second edition. Volumes 1 and 2, 672 pages, illustrated. St. Louis, 1959, The C. V. Mosby Company. $32.50 (2 volumes). This work is a two-volume edition of the Atlas of Roentgenografihic Positions by Venita Merrill. Venita Merrill, until recently Educational Director of Picker X-ray Corporation, has had long experience as an x-ray technician and has sought and obtained the advice and guidance of some of the outstanding radiologists in the country while preparing these volumes. Adding the support given to her by the Picker Corporation to the good guidance she received and
615
her own considerable ability, she has been able to turn out an excellent guidebook for x-ray technicians and for the radiologist, too. The books arc beautifully printed and are copiously illustrated by excellent x-ray reproductions and well-drawn diagrams. The texts are readable and intelligently brief. Intentionally omitted are discussions of x-ray exposure factors, on the assumption, I suppose, that the x-ray departments determine such matters themselves. In the reviewer’s opinion this omission is a weakness of the books. Apart from serving the technicians working in well regulated university departments, the books will be used by many others to whom guidance in exposure technique would be useful. This is particularly so for those technicians who are working in individual radiologists’ offices and offices of nonradiologists. Also omitted from these volumes is any discussion of x-ray protection factors. ‘The technicians constitute a very real and important part of the radiation protection team and they should be instructed in factors of radiation protection both for themselves and for the patients and the surroundings. In light of today’s awareness of the hazards involved in diagnostic radiation when improperly used, no one, not even the technician, can be relieved of his share of responsibility. All in all, these volumes are highly recommended as an atlas of the usual and even the very unusual positionings of the patient for radiographic examination. Medical
Management of the Menopause. By Minnie B. Goldberg. 88 pages, 10 figures, 5 tables. New York, 1959, Grune & Stratton, Inc. $4.50. A concise approach to management of the menopausal syndrome with therapy aimed toward maintaining normal physiologic function is advocated by Dr. Goldberg. The menopausal syndrome consists of a \,ariety of unpleasant symptoms involving any or all of the systems of the body. It results from hormonal imbalance, essentially a deficiency of estrogens. Symptoms sufficient to require therapy occur in approximately 50 per cent of women. They may appear before, coincident with, or following the cessation of menses. Therapy includes reassurance, sedation, psychotherapy, and hormonal supplementation. The first three, although helpful and necessary, do not constitute adequate treatment for any but the
Reviews of new books
Amino
Acids and Peptides With Antimetabolic Activity. By G. I?. W. Wolstenholmc~ and the
Cecilia M. O’Connor, editors Ciba Foundation. 286 pages,
t,arcinogenesis in which he clearly points out 4ome of the fundamental considerations of the biology and cnvironmrntal phenomena related to cancer. An understanding of the future of
~III 28
illustrations. Boston, 1958, Little, BITWII & Company. $8.75. This volume is essentially thch trausactions of thf, Ciba Foundation Symposium hold in London. England, March 18-20, 1958. On this occasion. 29 participants presented papers n&ted to the stll,jcct of amino acids and pcptidcs with antimetaf)olic and cytotoxic propt,rtk’;. Although 1IIP majority of the presentaCour we highlv technical and require advanced 1)iochemiral knowledge for interpretation, there i< :I tr~nsidrrable amount of \~aluable clinical infornlntion noted here and there.
chemotherapy is readilyobtained by the reader ;tftt‘r perusal of J. N. IIavidson’s rxcellrnt SWrican OII c,hellliczl nlechanisms of normal and ahuurmal ~11 division as well as -4. G. Griffin’s portrayal of I)ioc.h~~mistry of cancer induction. A< in the later volumc~s, the editor has wisely
Cnfortunately, neither the index uor the title\ s(‘rvt: 3s an aid for the reader iu discovering thiz without plodding through a nlaze of chemical formulas and cellular biolo,q:) . Cancer.
ticularly true of Magnus Haines’ chapter on utcarus, ovary, Fallopian tube, vagina. and vulva. I towcver, G. ,J. (Cunningham has an informative, presentation on the q,nrral pathology of malignant tumors. In \‘c~lurnt~ :i. the editor, with thcs 2ssisCancc of twrnt) -t\vo contributors, covers hdditional pathological nspccts of cancer includiug gctrgraphy, occupaliou, edrlcatiou, and dtstect ior). This include\ a \‘t*r) instructive discussion l)v II<<% l.a
Edited by Ronald W. liavcv~. Volurt~c~~ I to .&, 2,280 pages, 231 tables, 78’1 figures. London, 19.58, ButterM trrth B Ch..
I,td.
?$18.00
per
\ollllrlC.
scar IIm~ltl
614
ttlortalit~ IhlLIll.
tl.crltl<
ili
III~*
T!rlittxd
St;ltf+
I)\
Book Reviews
tween the gynecologist and radiotherapist to decide on the best method of treatment. It is interesting to note that he encourages the conservative approach to younger patients with carcinoma in situ of the cervix. This reviewer was impressed with Howkins’ insistance on a fractional curettage to determine the exact site and extent of carcinoma of the endometrium because he believes a simple total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is inadequate when there is invasion of the isthmus or cndocervix. Douglas MacLeod’s coverage of malignant tumors of the ovary and Fallopian tubes is very superficial as well exemplified by his coverage of chemotherapy in four lines: “Regression may occur in some of the advanced ol*.arian tumors with chemotherapy. For example, chlorambucil is used in doses up to 10 nnlligrams daily, for a period of 1 month. During this period the hemoglobin, leucocytes and platelets are checked weekly.” The malignant tumors of the vulva, vagina, and female urethra are similarly presented by H. H. Francis. Although this reviewer has pointed out several areas of weakness in the material presented in the four volumes of Cancer. this should not he construed as a reluctance to praise Ronald Raven and his collaborators for a very excellent contribution to medical literature. On the contrary, Cancer is a monumental work that can he appreciated only by the individual with the time and interest to peruse its entire contents. As Ronald Raven states in the preface, future progress may change the prominence of certain subjects covered in Cancer. In the interim, this shall serve as an excellent reference publication and a “strong foundation on which a superstructure can be erected in the future.” Atlas of Roentgenographic Positions. By Venita Merrill. Second edition. Volumes 1 and 2, 672 pages, illustrated. St. Louis, 1959, The C. V. Mosby Company. $32.50 (2 volumes). This work is a two-volume edition of the Atlas of Roentgenografihic Positions by Venita Merrill. Venita Merrill, until recently Educational Director of Picker X-ray Corporation, has had long experience as an x-ray technician and has sought and obtained the advice and guidance of some of the outstanding radiologists in the country while preparing these volumes. Adding the support given to her by the Picker Corporation to the good guidance she received and
615
her own considerable ability, she has been able to turn out an excellent guidebook for x-ray technicians and for the radiologist, too. The books arc beautifully printed and are copiously illustrated by excellent x-ray reproductions and well-drawn diagrams. The texts are readable and intelligently brief. Intentionally omitted are discussions of x-ray exposure factors, on the assumption, I suppose, that the x-ray departments determine such matters themselves. In the reviewer’s opinion this omission is a weakness of the books. Apart from serving the technicians working in well regulated university departments, the books will be used by many others to whom guidance in exposure technique would be useful. This is particularly so for those technicians who are working in individual radiologists’ offices and offices of nonradiologists. Also omitted from these volumes is any discussion of x-ray protection factors. ‘The technicians constitute a very real and important part of the radiation protection team and they should be instructed in factors of radiation protection both for themselves and for the patients and the surroundings. In light of today’s awareness of the hazards involved in diagnostic radiation when improperly used, no one, not even the technician, can be relieved of his share of responsibility. All in all, these volumes are highly recommended as an atlas of the usual and even the very unusual positionings of the patient for radiographic examination. Medical
Management of the Menopause. By Minnie B. Goldberg. 88 pages, 10 figures, 5 tables. New York, 1959, Grune & Stratton, Inc. $4.50. A concise approach to management of the menopausal syndrome with therapy aimed toward maintaining normal physiologic function is advocated by Dr. Goldberg. The menopausal syndrome consists of a \,ariety of unpleasant symptoms involving any or all of the systems of the body. It results from hormonal imbalance, essentially a deficiency of estrogens. Symptoms sufficient to require therapy occur in approximately 50 per cent of women. They may appear before, coincident with, or following the cessation of menses. Therapy includes reassurance, sedation, psychotherapy, and hormonal supplementation. The first three, although helpful and necessary, do not constitute adequate treatment for any but the