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Dizziness, hearing loss, and tinnitus
418
BOOK
certainly be recommended to all otolaryngologists and other physicians interested in learning more about this fascinating entity. Roger S. Kaufman, MD Syracuse, NY Dizziness, Hearing Loss, and Tinnitus by Robert A. Baloh (ed). Philadelphia, PA, F.A. Davis, 1998, 256 pages, $65.00. The stated goal of this book is to present a concise, organized approach to evaluating patients who present with dizziness, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The author is a well-known neurologist noted for his interest in disorders of hearing and balance. He has directed this work toward an audience that would include residents in neurology and otolaryngology, as well as practicing neurologists, otolaryngologists, and primary care physicians. The book is logically divided into sections on anatomy and physiology, history and examination, and diagnosis and treatment. The chapters are well organized, clearly written, and illustrated with welldone figures, diagrams, and photographs. The first section on anatomy and physiology is surprisingly complete given its brevity, Important principles necessary for understanding the information presented in later chapters on diagnosis and management are clearly explained without oversimplification, and the author has wisely avoided overwhelming detail that might intimidate the intended audience. The sections on vestibular physiology are particularly well crafted to set up the more clinically oriented topics covered later. The second section is divided into chapters on clinical signs and symptoms and diagnostic testing for each broad category. Again, each chapter includes sufficient detail for understanding important principles of assessment. The chapters on approach to the patient with dizziness and with tinnitus are classics and should be required reading for all otolaryngology residents. There is some overlap in the third section, which focuses much more on specific disease entities. Chapters on symptomatic treatment of vertigo and tinnitus provide an excellent summary of current practice. Although this text provides only the approach of the author, he is evenhanded in his discussion, and I found little in the way of idiosyncrasy. Experienced and sophisticated readers might occasionally differ in style, but this book presents an excellent guide to assessment and treatment of disorders that can be confusing and time consuming to evaluate. I suspect that his well-thought-out flow diagrams will be posted on the walls of many clinics, as well they should be. At $65.00, this book is a “must have.” Hayes H. Wanamaker, MD Syracuse, NY Imaging of the Temporal Bone (ed 3) by Swartz JD, Harnsberger HR (eds). New York, NY, Thieme, 1998,512 pages, $129.00.
REVIEWS
Joel Swartz, in solo, wrote the first book on temporal bone imaging in 1986. Since that time, the field has grown by leaps and bounds. This new book easily keeps pace with the changes. Imaging of the Temporal Bone is divided into eight chapters. The introduction (Chapter 1) contains useful algorithms for the radiographic evaluation of hearing loss, chronic otitis media, vertigo, otalgia, and so on. The chapters on the external auditory canal and on the middle ear and mastoid discuss embryology and normal anatomy, as well as pathology. The long fourth chapter focuses on pulsatile tinnitus and covers normal vascular anatomy (illustrated with computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MR) images and angiograms), vascular anomalies (dehiscent jugular bulb, aberrant carotid artery), vascular disease (stenoses, fibromuscular dysplasia), and vascular tumors (glomus tumors, vascular metastases, vascular malformations). The chapter on the otic capsule provides a solid background in normal inner ear embryology, anatomy, and physiology before tackling the otodystrophies. The section on trauma is brief and concise but thorough. There is plenty of clinical information in the chapter on the facial nerve. The final chapter considers the vestibulocochlear nerve, the internal auditory canal, and the cerebellopontine angle. Given this organization, inevitably there is overlap. The book’s organization also leads to somewhat odd groupings. Petrous apex disease, for example, finds its way into the chapter on the vestibulocochlear nerve, as well as in the chapters on the middle ear and mastoid, inner ear, and vascular anatomy. The editors appear to have attempted to limit redundancy. Sometimes (not always), authors refer the reader to other sections of the book that address the same topic. This feature is quite helpful, and the authors could make a point of doing more of it when they start planning the fourth edition. The book’s greatest strength is the magnificent illustrations. The CT and MR images are of high quality and are reproduced and labeled clearly. In addition, there is a variety of excellent drawings. Some are simple line drawings that clarify the imaging findings (ossicular disruption, for example). Others are highly detailed anatomic diagrams, including four beautiful color plates in the middle of the book. Some of the finest drawings are by David L. Daniels, MD, although, disappointingly, this talented artist/physician is not given credit on the page of contributors at the front of the book. Imaging of the Temporal Bone (ed 3) is a beautiful radiology book (with the outstanding illustrations that the title implies), impressively augmented by anatomic and clinical information. The publisher’s list price of $129.00 makes this an unexpectedly good buy as well. The book belongs on the shelves of everyone whose professional activities include contemplating the temporal bone from just about any perspective. Jane L. Weissman, Pittsburgh,
MD PA
BOOK
certainly be recommended to all otolaryngologists and other physicians interested in learning more about this fascinating entity. Roger S. Kaufman, MD Syracuse, NY Dizziness, Hearing Loss, and Tinnitus by Robert A. Baloh (ed). Philadelphia, PA, F.A. Davis, 1998, 256 pages, $65.00. The stated goal of this book is to present a concise, organized approach to evaluating patients who present with dizziness, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The author is a well-known neurologist noted for his interest in disorders of hearing and balance. He has directed this work toward an audience that would include residents in neurology and otolaryngology, as well as practicing neurologists, otolaryngologists, and primary care physicians. The book is logically divided into sections on anatomy and physiology, history and examination, and diagnosis and treatment. The chapters are well organized, clearly written, and illustrated with welldone figures, diagrams, and photographs. The first section on anatomy and physiology is surprisingly complete given its brevity, Important principles necessary for understanding the information presented in later chapters on diagnosis and management are clearly explained without oversimplification, and the author has wisely avoided overwhelming detail that might intimidate the intended audience. The sections on vestibular physiology are particularly well crafted to set up the more clinically oriented topics covered later. The second section is divided into chapters on clinical signs and symptoms and diagnostic testing for each broad category. Again, each chapter includes sufficient detail for understanding important principles of assessment. The chapters on approach to the patient with dizziness and with tinnitus are classics and should be required reading for all otolaryngology residents. There is some overlap in the third section, which focuses much more on specific disease entities. Chapters on symptomatic treatment of vertigo and tinnitus provide an excellent summary of current practice. Although this text provides only the approach of the author, he is evenhanded in his discussion, and I found little in the way of idiosyncrasy. Experienced and sophisticated readers might occasionally differ in style, but this book presents an excellent guide to assessment and treatment of disorders that can be confusing and time consuming to evaluate. I suspect that his well-thought-out flow diagrams will be posted on the walls of many clinics, as well they should be. At $65.00, this book is a “must have.” Hayes H. Wanamaker, MD Syracuse, NY Imaging of the Temporal Bone (ed 3) by Swartz JD, Harnsberger HR (eds). New York, NY, Thieme, 1998,512 pages, $129.00.
REVIEWS
Joel Swartz, in solo, wrote the first book on temporal bone imaging in 1986. Since that time, the field has grown by leaps and bounds. This new book easily keeps pace with the changes. Imaging of the Temporal Bone is divided into eight chapters. The introduction (Chapter 1) contains useful algorithms for the radiographic evaluation of hearing loss, chronic otitis media, vertigo, otalgia, and so on. The chapters on the external auditory canal and on the middle ear and mastoid discuss embryology and normal anatomy, as well as pathology. The long fourth chapter focuses on pulsatile tinnitus and covers normal vascular anatomy (illustrated with computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MR) images and angiograms), vascular anomalies (dehiscent jugular bulb, aberrant carotid artery), vascular disease (stenoses, fibromuscular dysplasia), and vascular tumors (glomus tumors, vascular metastases, vascular malformations). The chapter on the otic capsule provides a solid background in normal inner ear embryology, anatomy, and physiology before tackling the otodystrophies. The section on trauma is brief and concise but thorough. There is plenty of clinical information in the chapter on the facial nerve. The final chapter considers the vestibulocochlear nerve, the internal auditory canal, and the cerebellopontine angle. Given this organization, inevitably there is overlap. The book’s organization also leads to somewhat odd groupings. Petrous apex disease, for example, finds its way into the chapter on the vestibulocochlear nerve, as well as in the chapters on the middle ear and mastoid, inner ear, and vascular anatomy. The editors appear to have attempted to limit redundancy. Sometimes (not always), authors refer the reader to other sections of the book that address the same topic. This feature is quite helpful, and the authors could make a point of doing more of it when they start planning the fourth edition. The book’s greatest strength is the magnificent illustrations. The CT and MR images are of high quality and are reproduced and labeled clearly. In addition, there is a variety of excellent drawings. Some are simple line drawings that clarify the imaging findings (ossicular disruption, for example). Others are highly detailed anatomic diagrams, including four beautiful color plates in the middle of the book. Some of the finest drawings are by David L. Daniels, MD, although, disappointingly, this talented artist/physician is not given credit on the page of contributors at the front of the book. Imaging of the Temporal Bone (ed 3) is a beautiful radiology book (with the outstanding illustrations that the title implies), impressively augmented by anatomic and clinical information. The publisher’s list price of $129.00 makes this an unexpectedly good buy as well. The book belongs on the shelves of everyone whose professional activities include contemplating the temporal bone from just about any perspective. Jane L. Weissman, Pittsburgh,
MD PA