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Allergic diseases; diagnosis and management
Volume 7 Number 3 September, 1982
Book reviews
eluded the most traditional viewpoints, such as a chapter on premalignant melanocytic dysplasias by Richard J. Reed, Wallace H. Clark, Jr., and Martin Mihm, Thus, the reader can decide whose approach will enable him to best understand and diagnose these perplexing melanocytic lesions. Second, Dr. Ackerman has achieved a nice blend of basic science, clinical evaluation, and therapy without slighting dermatopathology. The two introductory chapters by Funan Hu and James J, Nordlund on melanocyte cytology and genetic basis of pigmentation are both concise but very helpful in understanding the balance of the book. The dysplastic nevus syndrome and acral lentiginous melanoma receive special attention as the latest additions to the clinical family of malignant melanoma. Prognostic indicators are explored by the leaders in this field, including the late Alexander Breslow, Christian Schmoeckel, and Vincent J. McGovern. Finally, the rationale behind the 5-cm margin is reexplored. For the hard core pathologist, there are several chapters which deal with such topics as vulval melanocytic nevi, malignant melanomas mistaken histologically for .junctional nevi, and nevus cells in lymph nodes. The little volume deserves the attention of every dermatologist and dermatopathologist. It is attractively and solidly bound to stand up to much use in the reading room. Because Dr. Ackerrnan has gone to such great lengths to attract outstanding contributors and allow conflicting viewpoints to be discussed, it is likely that each reader will find one or several contributions with which he disagrees. But he will just as surely encounter many new ideas and become more skilled in dealing with one of dermatology's few life-threatening diseases. Waiter H. C. Burgdorf, M.D. Oklahoma City, OK
Allergic diseases; diagnosis and management Roy Patterson, editor, Philadelphia, 1980, J. B. Lippincott Co. 714 pages. $43.50. People are always asking, "Isn't there a good inexpensive book on . . . ? " In the field of allergy, the answer is simple: "Yes, Roy Patter-
425
son's textbook!" Allergic Diseases is simply a masterpiece; it is complete, inexpensive, well edited, and thoroughly scientific. You may be ready to believe that the book is good but still wondering why a dermatologist needs a book on allergy. In many parts of the world, dermatologists fill many of the functions of the allergists in the United States. For example, in West Germany, our colleagues are responsible for scratch testing. Secondly, the overlap of patients between dermatology and allergy is enormous and includes patients with atopy, urticaria, and pruritus. Finally, both dermatologists and allergists need to have roughly the same fund of knowledge about immunology, which is expertly provided in the first 75 pages. The rest of the chapters can be divided into several major groups: In the group "Diseases Familiar to the Dermatologist," Atopic Dermatitis, Urticaria, Pruritus, Allergic Contact Dermatitis, and Drug Reactions are all topics with which every dermatologist feels conversant. But everyone would readily admit to needing help in treating some of these patients. I found the slightly different point of view incorporated into the discussions by the allergist authors most helpful. Richard D. DeSwarte's review of drug allergy consumes 132 pages, has 311 references, and far exceeds any similar effort available in the standard dermatology texts. Under "Diseases With Which Dermatologists Should Be Familiar But May Not B e , " Eosinophilia, Stinging Insects, Allergic Diseases of the Eyes and Ears, and Allergic Emergencies were four chapters that I found most valuable. In the group, "Allergies Which Rarely Involve the Dermatologist," some dermatologists will want to be more conversant with scratch tests, allergens, prevalent pollens, asthma, and nasal polyps, either to better understand their own diseases or to better work with allergists in treating these common problems. The real strength of this book is the marvelous editing. Every chapter, regardless of length, is terse and concise. There is less repetition than one would dare expect in a book produced by twenty-eight authors. Apparently all of the con-
426
Book reviews
tributors were connected with Dr. Patterson's Section of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School at some time in their careers. This perhaps explains both their unified viewpoints and the ability of Dr. Patterson to so precisely edit their work. I wore out my first edition of Allergic Diseases
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and welcomed the appearance of the second edition. it is a pleasure to call it to the attention of the practicing dermatologist as a possible source of practical helpful information on a variety of difficult clinical problems.
Walter H. C. Burgdorf, M.D. Oklahoma City, OK
Book reviews
eluded the most traditional viewpoints, such as a chapter on premalignant melanocytic dysplasias by Richard J. Reed, Wallace H. Clark, Jr., and Martin Mihm, Thus, the reader can decide whose approach will enable him to best understand and diagnose these perplexing melanocytic lesions. Second, Dr. Ackerman has achieved a nice blend of basic science, clinical evaluation, and therapy without slighting dermatopathology. The two introductory chapters by Funan Hu and James J, Nordlund on melanocyte cytology and genetic basis of pigmentation are both concise but very helpful in understanding the balance of the book. The dysplastic nevus syndrome and acral lentiginous melanoma receive special attention as the latest additions to the clinical family of malignant melanoma. Prognostic indicators are explored by the leaders in this field, including the late Alexander Breslow, Christian Schmoeckel, and Vincent J. McGovern. Finally, the rationale behind the 5-cm margin is reexplored. For the hard core pathologist, there are several chapters which deal with such topics as vulval melanocytic nevi, malignant melanomas mistaken histologically for .junctional nevi, and nevus cells in lymph nodes. The little volume deserves the attention of every dermatologist and dermatopathologist. It is attractively and solidly bound to stand up to much use in the reading room. Because Dr. Ackerrnan has gone to such great lengths to attract outstanding contributors and allow conflicting viewpoints to be discussed, it is likely that each reader will find one or several contributions with which he disagrees. But he will just as surely encounter many new ideas and become more skilled in dealing with one of dermatology's few life-threatening diseases. Waiter H. C. Burgdorf, M.D. Oklahoma City, OK
Allergic diseases; diagnosis and management Roy Patterson, editor, Philadelphia, 1980, J. B. Lippincott Co. 714 pages. $43.50. People are always asking, "Isn't there a good inexpensive book on . . . ? " In the field of allergy, the answer is simple: "Yes, Roy Patter-
425
son's textbook!" Allergic Diseases is simply a masterpiece; it is complete, inexpensive, well edited, and thoroughly scientific. You may be ready to believe that the book is good but still wondering why a dermatologist needs a book on allergy. In many parts of the world, dermatologists fill many of the functions of the allergists in the United States. For example, in West Germany, our colleagues are responsible for scratch testing. Secondly, the overlap of patients between dermatology and allergy is enormous and includes patients with atopy, urticaria, and pruritus. Finally, both dermatologists and allergists need to have roughly the same fund of knowledge about immunology, which is expertly provided in the first 75 pages. The rest of the chapters can be divided into several major groups: In the group "Diseases Familiar to the Dermatologist," Atopic Dermatitis, Urticaria, Pruritus, Allergic Contact Dermatitis, and Drug Reactions are all topics with which every dermatologist feels conversant. But everyone would readily admit to needing help in treating some of these patients. I found the slightly different point of view incorporated into the discussions by the allergist authors most helpful. Richard D. DeSwarte's review of drug allergy consumes 132 pages, has 311 references, and far exceeds any similar effort available in the standard dermatology texts. Under "Diseases With Which Dermatologists Should Be Familiar But May Not B e , " Eosinophilia, Stinging Insects, Allergic Diseases of the Eyes and Ears, and Allergic Emergencies were four chapters that I found most valuable. In the group, "Allergies Which Rarely Involve the Dermatologist," some dermatologists will want to be more conversant with scratch tests, allergens, prevalent pollens, asthma, and nasal polyps, either to better understand their own diseases or to better work with allergists in treating these common problems. The real strength of this book is the marvelous editing. Every chapter, regardless of length, is terse and concise. There is less repetition than one would dare expect in a book produced by twenty-eight authors. Apparently all of the con-
426
Book reviews
tributors were connected with Dr. Patterson's Section of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School at some time in their careers. This perhaps explains both their unified viewpoints and the ability of Dr. Patterson to so precisely edit their work. I wore out my first edition of Allergic Diseases
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and welcomed the appearance of the second edition. it is a pleasure to call it to the attention of the practicing dermatologist as a possible source of practical helpful information on a variety of difficult clinical problems.
Walter H. C. Burgdorf, M.D. Oklahoma City, OK