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An Atlas of Prostatic Diseases, Third Edition, on CD-ROM
BOOK REVIEWS
An Atlas of Prostatic Diseases, Third Edition, on CD-ROM
An Illustrated Pocketbook of Prostatic Diseases, Second Edition
By Roger S. Kirby The Parthenon Publishing Group, London, United Kingdom, 2004, $99.95, ISBN 1-84214-301-8
By Roger S. Kirby The Parthenon Publishing Group, London, United Kingdom, 2004, 128 pages, $29.95, ISBN 1-84214-271-2
The author of this CD-ROM is well established in the field of urology, particularly in prostatic disease. Although the main focus of this CD-ROM is on the prostate, the author also discusses the seminal vesicles and serum prostate-specific antigen in some detail. From the basic science aspect, the author outlines the anatomy and embryology, innervations, and function of the prostate definitively and in a manner that is easily comprehensible. Furthermore, the molecular biology and factors associated with prostatic growth, both benign and malignant, are discussed well and are enhanced by clearly narrated video clips. Pathologic conditions associated with the prostate, namely prostatitis (acute and chronic), benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostate cancer (localized and metastatic) are discussed in some detail. The methods used to diagnose these diseases, the factors associated with their development, and the management options available are also elaborated on. The great attraction of this CD-ROM is that it is easy to read and contains numerous, well-drawn figures and photographs to help our understanding of the subject matter. Furthermore, each chapter is relatively short, making it possible to cover a topic and obtain the relevant information quickly. However, some chapters are too short, as they only cover the subject matter superficially. Notably, in chapter 7, the discussion of the factors involved in the development of prostate cancer could also have included the role of cell adhesion molecules. In addition, when discussing prostatitis, it would have been of value to include its classification. Although this book cannot be regarded as the definitive guide to cover all aspects of prostatic disease in full depth, it nevertheless provides an excellent overview of the important subjects concerning the prostate. In conclusion, this CD-ROM is user friendly and can be opened using either a Windows or Apple Macintosh computer. The subsections are well-delineated and easy to access. I would recommend this CD-ROM to any urology resident, as it will provide them with a good knowledge foundation on an organ that will no doubt play an important role in their day-to-day work. This CD-ROM will also be useful for those sitting the Boards, because it can be used as a guide to direct the reader to areas of prostatic diseases that require additional reading.
The objective of An Illustrated Pocketbook of Prostatic Diseases, Second Edition, its author, Professor Roger Kirby, writes in the Preface, is to educate physicians and nurse practitioners on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of the three primary diseases of the prostate: prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostatitis. Not only does Professor Kirby gracefully accomplish this objective, he does so in a book small enough to fit in one’s pocket. An Illustrated Pocketbook of Prostatic Diseases unfolds in a logical, lucid sequence. Beginning with developmental anatomy and cellular structure, Professor Kirby briefly describes the form, functions, and growth patterns of the normal prostate before swiftly moving into the pathologic findings and abnormal proliferation. These discussions form the foundation for the latter half of the book, in which he outlines the diagnosis and management for each of the three diseases. The color figures interspersed throughout the text are well-designed and include several easy-to-follow decision trees that summarize treatment recommendations. The references are appropriate. The clinical information is relevant and includes discussions of laparoscopic prostatectomy, the role of the endothelin axis in prostate cancer, androgen deprivation therapy updates, and the efficacy of combined medical therapy for BPH. Professor Kirby writes in clear, crisp prose. His discussions are well-informed and cogent, but not exhaustive. He eschews complex analyses in favor of descriptive summaries. The book is a lean 128 pages, including figures, references, and index. This approach allows Dr. Kirby to review the entirety of prostatic disease—from molecular pathophysiology to clinical management—in a concise format that permits easy retrieval of relevant information. Moreover, unlike most other medical texts, it may easily be read cover to cover. However, if conciseness is one of this book’s great strengths, it is also a potential weakness, because it precludes in-depth discussions of contentious issues. Current controversies in prostate cancer screening and management of localized disease, for example, receive little attention, and the sections on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic prostatitis are very brief. Readers searching for a comprehensive source on prostatic diseases are thus best served looking elsewhere. Still, comprehensiveness is clearly not Professor Kirby’s intent, and it is easy to quibble that a convenient, pocketsize reference manual fails to consider every facet of these complex diseases. Indeed, in an era in which clinicians are inundated with data, with ever increasing numbers of peerreviewed journals and media outlets clamoring for attention, this book serves a very important purpose: succinct summation of pertinent clinical issues by a world-
Masood A. Khan, M.D., F.R.C.S.(Urol.) Department of Urology Royal Marsden Hospital London, United Kingdom doi:10.1016/j.urology.2005.07.034 © 2006 ELSEVIER INC. 870
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
UROLOGY 67: 870 – 872, 2006
•
0090-4295/06/$32.00
An Atlas of Prostatic Diseases, Third Edition, on CD-ROM
An Illustrated Pocketbook of Prostatic Diseases, Second Edition
By Roger S. Kirby The Parthenon Publishing Group, London, United Kingdom, 2004, $99.95, ISBN 1-84214-301-8
By Roger S. Kirby The Parthenon Publishing Group, London, United Kingdom, 2004, 128 pages, $29.95, ISBN 1-84214-271-2
The author of this CD-ROM is well established in the field of urology, particularly in prostatic disease. Although the main focus of this CD-ROM is on the prostate, the author also discusses the seminal vesicles and serum prostate-specific antigen in some detail. From the basic science aspect, the author outlines the anatomy and embryology, innervations, and function of the prostate definitively and in a manner that is easily comprehensible. Furthermore, the molecular biology and factors associated with prostatic growth, both benign and malignant, are discussed well and are enhanced by clearly narrated video clips. Pathologic conditions associated with the prostate, namely prostatitis (acute and chronic), benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostate cancer (localized and metastatic) are discussed in some detail. The methods used to diagnose these diseases, the factors associated with their development, and the management options available are also elaborated on. The great attraction of this CD-ROM is that it is easy to read and contains numerous, well-drawn figures and photographs to help our understanding of the subject matter. Furthermore, each chapter is relatively short, making it possible to cover a topic and obtain the relevant information quickly. However, some chapters are too short, as they only cover the subject matter superficially. Notably, in chapter 7, the discussion of the factors involved in the development of prostate cancer could also have included the role of cell adhesion molecules. In addition, when discussing prostatitis, it would have been of value to include its classification. Although this book cannot be regarded as the definitive guide to cover all aspects of prostatic disease in full depth, it nevertheless provides an excellent overview of the important subjects concerning the prostate. In conclusion, this CD-ROM is user friendly and can be opened using either a Windows or Apple Macintosh computer. The subsections are well-delineated and easy to access. I would recommend this CD-ROM to any urology resident, as it will provide them with a good knowledge foundation on an organ that will no doubt play an important role in their day-to-day work. This CD-ROM will also be useful for those sitting the Boards, because it can be used as a guide to direct the reader to areas of prostatic diseases that require additional reading.
The objective of An Illustrated Pocketbook of Prostatic Diseases, Second Edition, its author, Professor Roger Kirby, writes in the Preface, is to educate physicians and nurse practitioners on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of the three primary diseases of the prostate: prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostatitis. Not only does Professor Kirby gracefully accomplish this objective, he does so in a book small enough to fit in one’s pocket. An Illustrated Pocketbook of Prostatic Diseases unfolds in a logical, lucid sequence. Beginning with developmental anatomy and cellular structure, Professor Kirby briefly describes the form, functions, and growth patterns of the normal prostate before swiftly moving into the pathologic findings and abnormal proliferation. These discussions form the foundation for the latter half of the book, in which he outlines the diagnosis and management for each of the three diseases. The color figures interspersed throughout the text are well-designed and include several easy-to-follow decision trees that summarize treatment recommendations. The references are appropriate. The clinical information is relevant and includes discussions of laparoscopic prostatectomy, the role of the endothelin axis in prostate cancer, androgen deprivation therapy updates, and the efficacy of combined medical therapy for BPH. Professor Kirby writes in clear, crisp prose. His discussions are well-informed and cogent, but not exhaustive. He eschews complex analyses in favor of descriptive summaries. The book is a lean 128 pages, including figures, references, and index. This approach allows Dr. Kirby to review the entirety of prostatic disease—from molecular pathophysiology to clinical management—in a concise format that permits easy retrieval of relevant information. Moreover, unlike most other medical texts, it may easily be read cover to cover. However, if conciseness is one of this book’s great strengths, it is also a potential weakness, because it precludes in-depth discussions of contentious issues. Current controversies in prostate cancer screening and management of localized disease, for example, receive little attention, and the sections on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic prostatitis are very brief. Readers searching for a comprehensive source on prostatic diseases are thus best served looking elsewhere. Still, comprehensiveness is clearly not Professor Kirby’s intent, and it is easy to quibble that a convenient, pocketsize reference manual fails to consider every facet of these complex diseases. Indeed, in an era in which clinicians are inundated with data, with ever increasing numbers of peerreviewed journals and media outlets clamoring for attention, this book serves a very important purpose: succinct summation of pertinent clinical issues by a world-
Masood A. Khan, M.D., F.R.C.S.(Urol.) Department of Urology Royal Marsden Hospital London, United Kingdom doi:10.1016/j.urology.2005.07.034 © 2006 ELSEVIER INC. 870
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
UROLOGY 67: 870 – 872, 2006
•
0090-4295/06/$32.00