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Oxford textbook of surgery
402
Surg Neural 1996;45:401-3
Book Reviews
schematic drawings of surgical techniques, all the updated information required to interpret the different craniofa~ial developmental anomalies and to face the specific difficulties that can be encountered when treating the various forms of craniosynostosis, hypertelorism, and facial cleft syndromes. Although the book does not neglect illustrating the main principles regulating the craniofacial growth and the criteria for the nosographic identification of the different craniofacial malformations, treated in two concise but comprehensive introductory chapters, most of the contributions to the volume focus specifically on the surgical aspects. In several instances, the chapters report on the personal experience of authors who have devised original approaches and procedures and gained for them a worldwide recognition. The result is an impressively large amount of information regarding surgical strategies, technical modalities, and the ways to prevent complications. Such information is easily accessible to the reader because of the completeness of the chapters and the rich iconography which is a characterizing feature of this book. A particular aspect for which the editors should be congratulated is the “spirit” for chaIlenging old and traditionally accepted concepts in favor of new alternative points of view, which permeates the whole volume, in spite of the high number of contributors and their different educations. in summary, any neurosurgeon or craniofacial surgeon interested in the treatment of faciocranial developmental anomalies will find this book well worth its price. Concezio
di Rocco, M.D. Rome, Italy
SSDI ~0~-3019(9~~~?~5
THE PITUITARY
GLAND,
2ND ED.
Edited by Hiroo Imura, M.D. 536 pages.$140.00. New York: Raven Press,1994. ISBNO-7817-0207-o.
This is an excellent and up-to-date book on the pituitary. It is written by experts in the field, most of whom are widely recognized as leaders in specific aspects of pituita~/neuroendocrine biology and pituitary disease. The book is well organized into sections on morphology, pituitary hormone genes and their expression, hormone structure, the regulation of hormone secretion, and pituitary tumors, The emphasis on molecular and cellular biology provides an excellent introduction and background
for the clinically related chapters on clinical pituitary disorders. Each of the topics is covered in great detail, with current information on the latest advances in molecular biology of the individual hormones, comprehensive reviews of neuroendocrine regulation of each hypoth~amic-pituita~ hormone complex, and detailed reviews on the current status of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of hormone secreting pituitary tumors. The latter chapters are of particular interest inasmuch as they are written by groups with extensive experience in the treatment of pituitary tumors. The references are up-todate in each of the chapters, permitting the reader ready access to the most recent literature. Special emphasis is given to the medical management of hormon~se~reting pituitary tumors that provides an excellent update on a subject that continues to undergo rapid change. The chapters make extensive use of tables and figures, which add to the quality of the presentations. The book should be of great interest to adult and pediatric endocrinologists and neurosurgeons who want to be aware of the latest developments in this important area of endocrinolo~. It is also recommended to laboratory investigators in the area of pituitary and neuroendocrinology who wish to keep abreast of the clinical advances that relate to their research. Lawrence
M.D. Chicago, Illinois
A. Frohman,
SSDl0090-3019(95)00310-Z
OXFORD ‘TEXTBOOK OF SURGERY Edited by Peter J. Morris, FRSand Ronald A. Malt, M.D. 2500 pages. $199.00. New York: Oxford University ISBN o-19-261800-8.
Press, 1994.
This massive two-volume tome on the discipline of surgery (in the broadest meaning of the word) is awesome. We should expect same from two of the most respected academic surgeons in the world today, Professors Peter Morris of Oxford and Ronald Malt of Harvard. They have brought together the finest of their faculties to give a balanced United ~ngdom-United States presentation of the most pertinent aspects of the many subjects included. The presentations are crisp, but inclusive. The use of color illustrations is welcome. Color is found in the tables as well. The leader of the neurosurgical section is Senior Consultant neurosurgeon Mr. C. B. T. Adams of the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford. He sets the tone in his
Book Reviews
first chapter with a succinct overview of the specialty of neurosurgery. The text subsequently is a mixture of contributions from both sides of the Atlantic. The 59 pages allotted to neurosurgery seem insufficient for such a major surgical specialty. Yet, I am impressed with how much valuable information is found in this contracted space: information of import to the nonneurosurgeon. This section demonstrates the readership sought by the editors. In the Preface they state, “but our aims were to produce a book which could be used as a source of reference by general surgeons, either trained or in training, both in the Western world and in developing countries, and equally to provide a ready source of reference for surgeons in specialist branches of surgery, such as neurosurgery and
Surg Neurol 1996;45:401-3
403
orthopaedic surgery. We hope that with this approach general surgeons will not only get a feeling for current practice in their own areas of interest but will also be able to obtain sufficient information about problems presenting in their patients that involve, or might involve, another specialty. Similarly the specialist surgeon can also find sufficient material in the Textbook concerning some problem in general surgery or another specialist branch of surgery to be able to reassure a patient or to use for teaching purposes.” Gentlemen, you have accomplished your aims. Lloyd M. Nyhus, M.D. Dres. h.c. Chicago, Illinois SSDl0090-3019(96)00342-2
Surg Neural 1996;45:401-3
Book Reviews
schematic drawings of surgical techniques, all the updated information required to interpret the different craniofa~ial developmental anomalies and to face the specific difficulties that can be encountered when treating the various forms of craniosynostosis, hypertelorism, and facial cleft syndromes. Although the book does not neglect illustrating the main principles regulating the craniofacial growth and the criteria for the nosographic identification of the different craniofacial malformations, treated in two concise but comprehensive introductory chapters, most of the contributions to the volume focus specifically on the surgical aspects. In several instances, the chapters report on the personal experience of authors who have devised original approaches and procedures and gained for them a worldwide recognition. The result is an impressively large amount of information regarding surgical strategies, technical modalities, and the ways to prevent complications. Such information is easily accessible to the reader because of the completeness of the chapters and the rich iconography which is a characterizing feature of this book. A particular aspect for which the editors should be congratulated is the “spirit” for chaIlenging old and traditionally accepted concepts in favor of new alternative points of view, which permeates the whole volume, in spite of the high number of contributors and their different educations. in summary, any neurosurgeon or craniofacial surgeon interested in the treatment of faciocranial developmental anomalies will find this book well worth its price. Concezio
di Rocco, M.D. Rome, Italy
SSDI ~0~-3019(9~~~?~5
THE PITUITARY
GLAND,
2ND ED.
Edited by Hiroo Imura, M.D. 536 pages.$140.00. New York: Raven Press,1994. ISBNO-7817-0207-o.
This is an excellent and up-to-date book on the pituitary. It is written by experts in the field, most of whom are widely recognized as leaders in specific aspects of pituita~/neuroendocrine biology and pituitary disease. The book is well organized into sections on morphology, pituitary hormone genes and their expression, hormone structure, the regulation of hormone secretion, and pituitary tumors, The emphasis on molecular and cellular biology provides an excellent introduction and background
for the clinically related chapters on clinical pituitary disorders. Each of the topics is covered in great detail, with current information on the latest advances in molecular biology of the individual hormones, comprehensive reviews of neuroendocrine regulation of each hypoth~amic-pituita~ hormone complex, and detailed reviews on the current status of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of hormone secreting pituitary tumors. The latter chapters are of particular interest inasmuch as they are written by groups with extensive experience in the treatment of pituitary tumors. The references are up-todate in each of the chapters, permitting the reader ready access to the most recent literature. Special emphasis is given to the medical management of hormon~se~reting pituitary tumors that provides an excellent update on a subject that continues to undergo rapid change. The chapters make extensive use of tables and figures, which add to the quality of the presentations. The book should be of great interest to adult and pediatric endocrinologists and neurosurgeons who want to be aware of the latest developments in this important area of endocrinolo~. It is also recommended to laboratory investigators in the area of pituitary and neuroendocrinology who wish to keep abreast of the clinical advances that relate to their research. Lawrence
M.D. Chicago, Illinois
A. Frohman,
SSDl0090-3019(95)00310-Z
OXFORD ‘TEXTBOOK OF SURGERY Edited by Peter J. Morris, FRSand Ronald A. Malt, M.D. 2500 pages. $199.00. New York: Oxford University ISBN o-19-261800-8.
Press, 1994.
This massive two-volume tome on the discipline of surgery (in the broadest meaning of the word) is awesome. We should expect same from two of the most respected academic surgeons in the world today, Professors Peter Morris of Oxford and Ronald Malt of Harvard. They have brought together the finest of their faculties to give a balanced United ~ngdom-United States presentation of the most pertinent aspects of the many subjects included. The presentations are crisp, but inclusive. The use of color illustrations is welcome. Color is found in the tables as well. The leader of the neurosurgical section is Senior Consultant neurosurgeon Mr. C. B. T. Adams of the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford. He sets the tone in his
Book Reviews
first chapter with a succinct overview of the specialty of neurosurgery. The text subsequently is a mixture of contributions from both sides of the Atlantic. The 59 pages allotted to neurosurgery seem insufficient for such a major surgical specialty. Yet, I am impressed with how much valuable information is found in this contracted space: information of import to the nonneurosurgeon. This section demonstrates the readership sought by the editors. In the Preface they state, “but our aims were to produce a book which could be used as a source of reference by general surgeons, either trained or in training, both in the Western world and in developing countries, and equally to provide a ready source of reference for surgeons in specialist branches of surgery, such as neurosurgery and
Surg Neurol 1996;45:401-3
403
orthopaedic surgery. We hope that with this approach general surgeons will not only get a feeling for current practice in their own areas of interest but will also be able to obtain sufficient information about problems presenting in their patients that involve, or might involve, another specialty. Similarly the specialist surgeon can also find sufficient material in the Textbook concerning some problem in general surgery or another specialist branch of surgery to be able to reassure a patient or to use for teaching purposes.” Gentlemen, you have accomplished your aims. Lloyd M. Nyhus, M.D. Dres. h.c. Chicago, Illinois SSDl0090-3019(96)00342-2