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An Illustrated Pocketbook of Prostatic Diseases, Second Edition
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
renowned expert. In this sense, practicing urologists, urology trainees, medical students, and allied health professionals should find An Illustrated Pocketbook of Prostatic Diseases an extremely useful resource in their clinical pursuits.
J. Kellogg Parsons, M.D., M.H.S. Division of Urology University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine San Diego, California
term “ultrasound cystodynogram,” which the authors use to describe a specific study but that is actually composed of three parts: (a) an ultrasound scan of the full bladder, (b) a noninvasive uroflow study, and (c) an ultrasound determination of the postvoid residual urine volume. In conclusion, this textbook should not replace more comprehensive works on imaging of the urinary tract but is rather useful as a general, even introductory, yet practical everyday reference. Notwithstanding the above statements, it is written such that trainees, as well as experienced practitioners in both urology and radiology, may find it a useful read.
doi:10.1016/j.urology.2005.09.023
Imaging and Urodynamics of the Lower Urinary Tract Edited by Udey Patel and David Rickards Taylor and Francis, New York, New York, 2005, 136 pages, ISBN 1-84184-325-3.
Although outstanding texts such as Howard Pollack’s monumental reference work Clinical Urography, 2nd ed. (Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 2000) provide the interested reader with imaging details about virtually every known urologic disease and condition, such books can be unwieldy for the reader desiring an overview of the field. For those seeking a brief synopsis of imaging of simply the lower urinary tract, Imaging and Urodynamics of the Lower Urinary Tract by Drs. Patel and Rickards may suffice. This small paperback book written by two uroradiologists from the United Kingdom consists of 14 chapters covering much of the salient techniques, features, and findings in imaging of the lower urinary tract. The first half of the book reviews imaging of the normal and then abnormal urinary bladder. Following this, a nice transitional chapter covers the functional anatomy of the bladder and urethra, specifically discussing urodynamics and videourodynamics. The second half of the book then reviews imaging of the normal and abnormal urethra with a separate chapter on lower urinary tract trauma. As noted by the authors in the Preface to the text, the true strength of this book lies in their ability to interpret the structural anatomy of the lower urinary tract in the context of its function. This is particularly true in the excellent chapter on urodynamics and videourodynamics in which the various patterns of urinary storage and voiding abnormalities are reviewed. This comparatively long chapter on urodynamics and videourodynamics is especially timely given the expanding use of these diagnostic modalities during the past decade. Given the limitations of the size of the book, the authors have succeeded in providing a brief overview of a very broad area of imaging. The figures in the text are wellchosen, representative images that are nicely illustrated and have excellent resolution. However, the book could benefit from additional radiographic images and examples of relevant pathologic findings for several conditions. In addition, the bibliography after each of the chapters is somewhat brief, and the authors chose not to use specific in-text citations to support some of the statements made in the text; a few of which are more conjecture than fact. Finally, some of the terminology used may be unfamiliar to practicing urologists in the United States. This includes the UROLOGY 67 (4), 2006
Eric S. Rovner, M.D. Department of Urology Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina doi:10.1016/j.urology.2005.10.024
Urological Emergencies: A Practical Guide Edited by Hunter Wessells and Jack W. McAninch Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, 2005, Hardcover: $135.00, ISBN 1-588-29256-8, eBook: $135.00, ISBN 1-59259-886-2
Urological Emergencies: A Practical Guide is a textbook edited by Hunter Wessells and Jack McAninch, both considered to be the most recognized experts in genitourinary trauma. This 400-page, 6-section, 24-chapter textbook is authored by 38 U.S. contributors who are all experts in the field of urologic emergencies. This textbook represents yet another fine addition to the Current Clinical Urology series edited by Eric A. Klein, M.D. for Humana Press. As medical care in the United States is changing dramatically and more of the emergency department time is spent caring for “general medical issues,” the training of emergency department physicians, as well as the consulting urologists who support them, will require an increased understanding and ability to draw on the clinical facts and recommendations for urologic emergencies as outlined in this excellent textbook. Unlike other urologic emergency texts, this book stresses pathophysiologic organization, rather than the typical “organ system” approach. The editors have broken the book into sections entitled Urogenital Trauma, Infection, Vascular and Hemorrhagic Emergencies, Acute Urinary Tract Obstruction, Iatrogenic Complications, and Newborn Urological Emergencies. The authors’ increased use of newly developed diagnostic techniques and radiographic imaging methods greatly augments the readability and clinical utility of this text. Highlights to this textbook include a careful explanation of the increased use of nonoperative observation for renal trauma; precise surgical descriptions for penetrating trauma to the kidney and external genitalia; easy-to-use treatment algorithms; numerous intraoperative and pretreatment images throughout the text; updated discussions of antibiotic use and genitourinary trauma and infectious diseases involving the urinary tract; evaluation and treatment of vascular and hemorrhagic emergencies; newborn emergencies, including spina bifida, posterior urethral valves, 871
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
renowned expert. In this sense, practicing urologists, urology trainees, medical students, and allied health professionals should find An Illustrated Pocketbook of Prostatic Diseases an extremely useful resource in their clinical pursuits.
J. Kellogg Parsons, M.D., M.H.S. Division of Urology University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine San Diego, California
term “ultrasound cystodynogram,” which the authors use to describe a specific study but that is actually composed of three parts: (a) an ultrasound scan of the full bladder, (b) a noninvasive uroflow study, and (c) an ultrasound determination of the postvoid residual urine volume. In conclusion, this textbook should not replace more comprehensive works on imaging of the urinary tract but is rather useful as a general, even introductory, yet practical everyday reference. Notwithstanding the above statements, it is written such that trainees, as well as experienced practitioners in both urology and radiology, may find it a useful read.
doi:10.1016/j.urology.2005.09.023
Imaging and Urodynamics of the Lower Urinary Tract Edited by Udey Patel and David Rickards Taylor and Francis, New York, New York, 2005, 136 pages, ISBN 1-84184-325-3.
Although outstanding texts such as Howard Pollack’s monumental reference work Clinical Urography, 2nd ed. (Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 2000) provide the interested reader with imaging details about virtually every known urologic disease and condition, such books can be unwieldy for the reader desiring an overview of the field. For those seeking a brief synopsis of imaging of simply the lower urinary tract, Imaging and Urodynamics of the Lower Urinary Tract by Drs. Patel and Rickards may suffice. This small paperback book written by two uroradiologists from the United Kingdom consists of 14 chapters covering much of the salient techniques, features, and findings in imaging of the lower urinary tract. The first half of the book reviews imaging of the normal and then abnormal urinary bladder. Following this, a nice transitional chapter covers the functional anatomy of the bladder and urethra, specifically discussing urodynamics and videourodynamics. The second half of the book then reviews imaging of the normal and abnormal urethra with a separate chapter on lower urinary tract trauma. As noted by the authors in the Preface to the text, the true strength of this book lies in their ability to interpret the structural anatomy of the lower urinary tract in the context of its function. This is particularly true in the excellent chapter on urodynamics and videourodynamics in which the various patterns of urinary storage and voiding abnormalities are reviewed. This comparatively long chapter on urodynamics and videourodynamics is especially timely given the expanding use of these diagnostic modalities during the past decade. Given the limitations of the size of the book, the authors have succeeded in providing a brief overview of a very broad area of imaging. The figures in the text are wellchosen, representative images that are nicely illustrated and have excellent resolution. However, the book could benefit from additional radiographic images and examples of relevant pathologic findings for several conditions. In addition, the bibliography after each of the chapters is somewhat brief, and the authors chose not to use specific in-text citations to support some of the statements made in the text; a few of which are more conjecture than fact. Finally, some of the terminology used may be unfamiliar to practicing urologists in the United States. This includes the UROLOGY 67 (4), 2006
Eric S. Rovner, M.D. Department of Urology Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina doi:10.1016/j.urology.2005.10.024
Urological Emergencies: A Practical Guide Edited by Hunter Wessells and Jack W. McAninch Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, 2005, Hardcover: $135.00, ISBN 1-588-29256-8, eBook: $135.00, ISBN 1-59259-886-2
Urological Emergencies: A Practical Guide is a textbook edited by Hunter Wessells and Jack McAninch, both considered to be the most recognized experts in genitourinary trauma. This 400-page, 6-section, 24-chapter textbook is authored by 38 U.S. contributors who are all experts in the field of urologic emergencies. This textbook represents yet another fine addition to the Current Clinical Urology series edited by Eric A. Klein, M.D. for Humana Press. As medical care in the United States is changing dramatically and more of the emergency department time is spent caring for “general medical issues,” the training of emergency department physicians, as well as the consulting urologists who support them, will require an increased understanding and ability to draw on the clinical facts and recommendations for urologic emergencies as outlined in this excellent textbook. Unlike other urologic emergency texts, this book stresses pathophysiologic organization, rather than the typical “organ system” approach. The editors have broken the book into sections entitled Urogenital Trauma, Infection, Vascular and Hemorrhagic Emergencies, Acute Urinary Tract Obstruction, Iatrogenic Complications, and Newborn Urological Emergencies. The authors’ increased use of newly developed diagnostic techniques and radiographic imaging methods greatly augments the readability and clinical utility of this text. Highlights to this textbook include a careful explanation of the increased use of nonoperative observation for renal trauma; precise surgical descriptions for penetrating trauma to the kidney and external genitalia; easy-to-use treatment algorithms; numerous intraoperative and pretreatment images throughout the text; updated discussions of antibiotic use and genitourinary trauma and infectious diseases involving the urinary tract; evaluation and treatment of vascular and hemorrhagic emergencies; newborn emergencies, including spina bifida, posterior urethral valves, 871