Hurwitz clinical pediatric dermatology: A textbook of skin disorders of childhood and adolescence, 4th edition

BOOK Hall’s manual of skin as a marker of underlying disease John C. Hall, MD and Brian J. Hall, MD, 2011, Shelton, CT, People’s Medical Publishing House-USA. 300 pages. $89.95. ISBN-10: 1607951029. ISBN-13: 978160 7951025. John C. Hall begins his introduction to Hall’s Manual of Skin with the apt declaration that, ‘‘All of medicine starts with observation.’’ Among the various organ systems in the human body, the skin is the most accessible for observation and in many ways serves as a mirror of our internal environment. Diseases of the skin, hair, and nails are very common and account for a significant portion of the global burden of disease. In addition, most dermatologic conditions are identified and treated by nondermatologistsea fact that underscores the importance of training clinicians on the skills and art involved in diagnosing, understanding, and treating common skin diseases. Hall’s Manual of Skin is an excellent, user-friendly resource geared toward general practitioners, nurses, and medical students who wish to expand their understanding of the diverse skin manifestations of internal disease. This textbook is ambitious in scope, and covers a broad range of topics ranging from the most common entities to rare zebras seen by only a few clinicians. Although the main focus pertains to high-yield cutaneous findings associated with organ systemespecific derangements, metabolic disease, genodermatoses, and infections, other equally essential topics not traditionally found in introductory dermatology textbooks are highlighted: psychocutaneous disorders and skin manifestations of drug abuse, eating disorders, and child abuse. The diverse list of contributing authors, some leading authorities within the field of dermatology, provides the reader with a broad representation of clinical approaches in managing skin diseases. Each chapter is written in clear, concise language and reinforced with high-quality clinical photographs. Especially impressive are clinical images representing diseases of hair (chapter 11) and nails (chapter 12). Tables and figures are also generously provided to help distill and reinforce key information. Furthermore, incorporation of basic histopathology provides the reader another layer of information to help distinguish between clinical entities. J AM ACAD DERMATOL

REVIEWS A minor limitation in this text is the lack of thorough discussion regarding therapeutic options, which may be to the dismay of practitioners seeking more precise therapeutic guidance. Although general medical and nonmedical treatment modalities are mentioned, no information on recommended medication dosage or treatment schedule is available. Readers will have to refer to larger reference books to obtain this information. Overall, Hall’s Manual of Skin is an excellent resource for general practitioners, nurses, and medical students to learn about dermatology in a nontraditional format where diseases are classified according to the specific organ system or skin appendage involved. I recommend this book without hesitation to those seeking to enhance their recognition and appreciation of the subtle dermatologic clues that may herald systemic disease. Filamer D. Kabigting, MD New York, New York http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2012.06.018

Hurwitz clinical pediatric dermatology: A textbook of skin disorders of childhood and adolescence, 4th edition Amy S. Paller and Anthony J. Mancini, 2011, Philadelphia, Elsevier Saunders. 624 pages. $139.16. ISBN-13:978-1-437-70412-9 This classic pediatric dermatology textbook was first written by Dr Sidney Hurwitz in 1981 with a second edition published in 1993. After the death of Dr Hurwitz, it was revised and updated by its current authors, Drs Amy Paller and Anthony Mancini, in the third and latest fourth editions. Although several other pediatric dermatology textbooks have appeared on the market since 1981, Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology maintains a useful niche as a single-volume source of reference. It is still, albeit just about, readable from cover to cover for trainee dermatologists and pediatricians, and is a favorite go-to textbook for practicing physicians who require up-to-date information on diagnosis and treatment of children with skin disease. The fourth edition is well organized and very comprehensive. It has 26 chapters starting with an overview of dermatologic diagnosis and covering all MARCH 2013 e103

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the major categories of childhood skin disease. Both common and rarer conditions are discussed with a complete review of their management. This edition has been updated to include new information and revised classifications of genetic disorders such as the ichthyoses and epidermolysis bullosa. It has an extended online companion edition to which most of the references have been relegated. Straightforward instructions on how to access this are provided at the beginning of the book. There are numerous illustrations and most of the clinical pictures are of high quality. The chapter on vascular lesions is particularly well illustrated. A minor quibble is that oral propranolol is discussed briefly as an evolving treatment for infantile

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hemangiomas although by now it has become a first-line therapy, displacing systemic steroids ‘‘the traditional gold standard’’ to second-line management. This may simply reflect the passage of time from updating the book to its publication. Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology remains an excellent and very complete textbook. I continue to recommend it to dermatology and pediatric trainees and to all clinicians who take care of children with skin disease. Julie S. Prendiville, MB, FRCPC Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2012.06.019