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Laser Treatment for Naevi
Grading Key = outstanding; = good; =fair;
Book Reviews
***** ***
Strategic Approaches in Coronary Intervention, edited by Stephen G. Ellis and David R. Holmes, Jr., 763 pp, with illus, $95, Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins (telephone: 800-638-0672), 1996, ISBN 0-683-02797-2
Type of Book: A comprehensive textbook with an international authorship that discusses the wide-ranging scope of interventional cardiology. Scope of Book: This in-depth book emphasizes decision-making skills in multiple clinical and anatomic situations. Contents: The book has four main sections and a summary. The chapters in the first section address new techniques of coronary revascularization and imaging and review the common modalities. Although these chapters are comprehensive, they provide little new information and may not be of interest to experienced interventionalists. The section on decision making in interventional cardiology presents the Duke, Mayo Clinic, and Thoraxcenter perspective on the manner in which randomized trials, registries, and experience have affected the implementation of interventional cardiology during a decade of experience. These chapters are unusual and excellent. The 25 chapters in the section on clinical problems represent the bulk of the textbook. This section includes the approach to specific recognized patterns of problems-for example, the focal vein graft lesion, the restenotic lesion vis-a-vis treatment strategies, and a myriad of specific clinical problems routinely encountered. The treatment of these topics represents an integrated and thorough application of data relative to the practice of interventional cardiology. This approach provides a rational vehicle for applying the science and experience of interventional cardiology in a thoughtful manner. These chapters are among the best available in any textbook on interventional cardiology. The final main section is a solid grouping of chapters that thoroughly discuss adjunctive therapies. Strengths: This integrated textbook has minimal repetition. A consistent theme throughout the text is to bring the scientific data to a practical endpoint. Deficiencies: A section on femoral artery closure devices and complications of coronary intervention would have been helpful. Recommended Readership: This book is a valuable contribution to the field of interventional cardiology and would be of great interest to fellows in cardiology, fellows in interventional cardiology, and practicing cardiologists. It is particularly worthy of attention because of its thoughtful integration and consistent style. Overall Grading:
*****
Michael R. Mooney, M.D., Minneapolis Heart Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Laser Treatment for Naevi, edited by Toshio Ohshiro, 257 pp, with illus, $159.95, New York, John Wiley & Sons (telephone: 800-225-5945),1995, ISBN 0-471-95243-5
Type of Book: A multiauthored text with a limited number of contributors, all of whom are from Japan, predominantly from the Mayo Clin Proc 1996: 71:1019-1020
**
**** = excellent;
* =poor.
Ohshiro Clinic in Tokyo; their expertise is in plastic surgery, dermatology, pain management, and industry. Scope ofBook: The textbook focuses on laser treatment of cutaneous lesions; the sections are divided into (I) "naevus," which includes a definition of the disease treated including physiologic aspects of the skin; (2) the laser, which focuses on physics; and (3) laser treatment, which covers various clinical applications. Contents: The first section defines naevus, a definition that was interesting because the authors included, in addition to traditional birthmarks, various cutaneous problems such as verruca vulgaris, actinic keratoses, and a long list of genodermatoses. Although many of these conditions can be treated with a laser, most American dermatologists would not define them as naevi. A large section of the text focuses on laser physics and engineering. The last sections on laser treatment present examples of diseases treated with the laser by using old and newer techniques. Some of the procedures are antiquated and even of questionable benefit. For example, one of the figures shows a soft tissue tumor of unspecified type that resembles a melanoma and was treated in part by excision with a carbon-dioxide laser, whereas the remaining nodules were treated with a Ruby and argon laser. In some cases, the results are excellent; in others, they are only satisfactory. The information on alternatives to laser treatment is helpful although limited. Strengths: The strength of this text is its description of laser physics and engineering. Although the illustrations in this section are predominantly black and white, they demonstrate some of the complicated concepts of the laser. Deficiencies: The classification of cutaneous disease is unusual and unhelpful. The photographs are of mediocre quality. Some of the choices for laser treatment involve technology that is not accepted practice today. Nevertheless, laser technology is evolving rapidly, and providing up-to-date information in a textbook is difficult. Recommended Readership: Dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and ophthalmologists in residency training or beginning their practice. Overall Grading:
**
Randall K. Roenigk, M.D., Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota
Endoscopy of the Colon, Rectum, and Anus, by James M. Church, 430 pp, with illus, $129.50, New York, Igaku-Shoin Medical Publishers (telephone: 800-765-0800), 1995, ISBN 0-89640264-9
Type ofBook: A single-authored text on the fundamentals of lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Scope of Book: This book presents a comprehensive, illustrated discussion pertinent to the practice of lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, including equipment, techniques, and applications. Contents: The 25 chapters are divided into 3 parts: background, techniques, and applications. The background section covers all aspects pertinent to endoscopy equipment, including a review of the history and development of endoscopes and available accessories,
1019
© 1996 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
For personal use. Mass reproduce only with permission from Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Book Reviews
***** ***
Strategic Approaches in Coronary Intervention, edited by Stephen G. Ellis and David R. Holmes, Jr., 763 pp, with illus, $95, Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins (telephone: 800-638-0672), 1996, ISBN 0-683-02797-2
Type of Book: A comprehensive textbook with an international authorship that discusses the wide-ranging scope of interventional cardiology. Scope of Book: This in-depth book emphasizes decision-making skills in multiple clinical and anatomic situations. Contents: The book has four main sections and a summary. The chapters in the first section address new techniques of coronary revascularization and imaging and review the common modalities. Although these chapters are comprehensive, they provide little new information and may not be of interest to experienced interventionalists. The section on decision making in interventional cardiology presents the Duke, Mayo Clinic, and Thoraxcenter perspective on the manner in which randomized trials, registries, and experience have affected the implementation of interventional cardiology during a decade of experience. These chapters are unusual and excellent. The 25 chapters in the section on clinical problems represent the bulk of the textbook. This section includes the approach to specific recognized patterns of problems-for example, the focal vein graft lesion, the restenotic lesion vis-a-vis treatment strategies, and a myriad of specific clinical problems routinely encountered. The treatment of these topics represents an integrated and thorough application of data relative to the practice of interventional cardiology. This approach provides a rational vehicle for applying the science and experience of interventional cardiology in a thoughtful manner. These chapters are among the best available in any textbook on interventional cardiology. The final main section is a solid grouping of chapters that thoroughly discuss adjunctive therapies. Strengths: This integrated textbook has minimal repetition. A consistent theme throughout the text is to bring the scientific data to a practical endpoint. Deficiencies: A section on femoral artery closure devices and complications of coronary intervention would have been helpful. Recommended Readership: This book is a valuable contribution to the field of interventional cardiology and would be of great interest to fellows in cardiology, fellows in interventional cardiology, and practicing cardiologists. It is particularly worthy of attention because of its thoughtful integration and consistent style. Overall Grading:
*****
Michael R. Mooney, M.D., Minneapolis Heart Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Laser Treatment for Naevi, edited by Toshio Ohshiro, 257 pp, with illus, $159.95, New York, John Wiley & Sons (telephone: 800-225-5945),1995, ISBN 0-471-95243-5
Type of Book: A multiauthored text with a limited number of contributors, all of whom are from Japan, predominantly from the Mayo Clin Proc 1996: 71:1019-1020
**
**** = excellent;
* =poor.
Ohshiro Clinic in Tokyo; their expertise is in plastic surgery, dermatology, pain management, and industry. Scope ofBook: The textbook focuses on laser treatment of cutaneous lesions; the sections are divided into (I) "naevus," which includes a definition of the disease treated including physiologic aspects of the skin; (2) the laser, which focuses on physics; and (3) laser treatment, which covers various clinical applications. Contents: The first section defines naevus, a definition that was interesting because the authors included, in addition to traditional birthmarks, various cutaneous problems such as verruca vulgaris, actinic keratoses, and a long list of genodermatoses. Although many of these conditions can be treated with a laser, most American dermatologists would not define them as naevi. A large section of the text focuses on laser physics and engineering. The last sections on laser treatment present examples of diseases treated with the laser by using old and newer techniques. Some of the procedures are antiquated and even of questionable benefit. For example, one of the figures shows a soft tissue tumor of unspecified type that resembles a melanoma and was treated in part by excision with a carbon-dioxide laser, whereas the remaining nodules were treated with a Ruby and argon laser. In some cases, the results are excellent; in others, they are only satisfactory. The information on alternatives to laser treatment is helpful although limited. Strengths: The strength of this text is its description of laser physics and engineering. Although the illustrations in this section are predominantly black and white, they demonstrate some of the complicated concepts of the laser. Deficiencies: The classification of cutaneous disease is unusual and unhelpful. The photographs are of mediocre quality. Some of the choices for laser treatment involve technology that is not accepted practice today. Nevertheless, laser technology is evolving rapidly, and providing up-to-date information in a textbook is difficult. Recommended Readership: Dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and ophthalmologists in residency training or beginning their practice. Overall Grading:
**
Randall K. Roenigk, M.D., Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota
Endoscopy of the Colon, Rectum, and Anus, by James M. Church, 430 pp, with illus, $129.50, New York, Igaku-Shoin Medical Publishers (telephone: 800-765-0800), 1995, ISBN 0-89640264-9
Type ofBook: A single-authored text on the fundamentals of lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Scope of Book: This book presents a comprehensive, illustrated discussion pertinent to the practice of lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, including equipment, techniques, and applications. Contents: The 25 chapters are divided into 3 parts: background, techniques, and applications. The background section covers all aspects pertinent to endoscopy equipment, including a review of the history and development of endoscopes and available accessories,
1019
© 1996 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
For personal use. Mass reproduce only with permission from Mayo Clinic Proceedings.