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Pathology of Unusual Malignant Cutaneous Tumors
763
BOOK REVIEWS
Valvular Heart Disease: Comprehensive Evaluation and Management (Cardiovascu lar Clinics, Vol 16, No. 2), edited by William S. Frankl and Albert N. Brest, 567 pp, with illus, $90, Philadelphia, F. A. Davis Company, 1986 Because there have been major advances in the diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease during the past 20 to 30 years, a review of this topic is both timely and warranted. This book includes material from 31 contributors, many of whom are recognized authorities in the field. The book is divided into four parts: (1) general concepts in valvular heart disease, (2) diagnostic methods, (3) specific syndromes, and (4) surgical interven tion and management. The initial chapter, by Dr. Bruce Waller, is a well-written, clinically oriented, fact-laden de scription of the pathologic features of valvular heart disease. The chapter incorporates many of Waller's previous landmark contributions to the field of valvular heart disease. It contains 194 references and numerous tables, illustrations, and photographs of pathologic specimens. The chapter by Stapleton entitled "Natural History of Chronic Valvular Disease" is an ele gant compilation of diagnostic insights and obser vations provided by an experienced clinician. The chapter is replete with practical clinical pointers— for example, the significance of a murmur charac teristic of aortic insufficiency detected along the right sternal border. The section on noninvasive methods includes a classic review of phonocardiographic and echocardiographic correlates by Shaver and Salerni. The chapter on the scintigraphic assessment of patients with valvular heart disease by Iskandrian and Hakki is extremely well referenced and emphasizes the role of radionuclide techniques in the evaluation and management of valvular regurgitant lesions. The section that describes changes in left ventricular volumes and systolic function during exercise and the associated impli cations for the timing of surgical intervention in patients with aortic regurgitation is especially pertinent and timely. Certain specific syndromes, such as mitral valve prolapse, endocarditis, acute mitral and aortic regurgitation, and aortic and mitral valve disease in elderly patients, are dis cussed in individual chapters. The final section is a comprehensive, detailed, in-depth review of surgical intervention and man
Mayo Clin Proc, September 1986, Vol 61
agement, including chapters on the timing of operations for mitral and aortic valve regurgita tion, the selection of a prosthetic valve, the current status of valve surgical procedures in children, and the long-term outcome after valve procedures. The chapter on tricuspid valve operations by Cobanoglu and Starr describes in detail the tech niques of the De Vega and Carpentier tricuspid annuloplasties. Obviously, books of this type cannot be allencompassing. Nevertheless, I believe that cer tain clinical problems, such as the details of anticoagulation therapy for patients with mitral stenosis and the role of electrocardioversion in such patients, receive inadequate attention in this book. As with any multiauthored text, the individ ual writing skills vary, and some overlap of infor mation and repetition are evident. In addition, the role of Doppler echocardiography, although ac knowledged as a major advance in noninvasive diagnostic testing, is not adequately emphasized. This book will be appreciated primarily by cardiologists and internists who have a specific interest in valvular heart disease. Clarence Shub, M.D. Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine
Pathology of Unusual Malignant Cutaneous Tumors (Clinical and Biochemical Analysis, Vol 20), edited by Mark R. Wick, 419 pp, with illus, $69.75, New York, Marcel Dekker, 1985 This book contains seven chapters in which ma lignant primary skin tumors are reviewed. In separate appendixes, methods for some enzyme histochemical determinations and for immunocytochemical staining are presented. The discus sion addresses sweat gland and pilosebaceous carcinomas, neuroendocrine carcinoma, malig nant neoplasms of superficial soft tissue, variant forms of melanoma, and lymphoma. A final chap ter describes selected metastatic tumors. Each chapter was prepared by different au thors. Apparently, no specific overall editorial format was established; thus, the organization of the content is inconsistent from one chapter to another. The depth of review of subjects also varies: the discussion of neuroendocrine carci-
Mayo Clin Proc, September 1986, Vol 61
noma fills 72 pages, yet the entire review of malignant cutaneous soft tissue tumors consists of only 68 pages. Although the chapter on lymphoid neoplasms is well written and contains good general informa tion about lymphomas, it is of little use if the reader wants to learn about lymphomatoid papulosis, the cutaneous lesions of angiocentric lympho mas, pagetoid reticulosis, regressing atypical histiocytosis, or the cutaneous manifestations of angioimmunoblasticlymphadenopathy. The reproduction of the photomicrographs is generally mediocre. Electron photomicrographs of some lesions are included but, as is often the case, seldom augment the morphologic diagnosis. Too few illustrations are incorporated for this text to have value as a reference atlas. Apparent lack of expertise, particularly in the chapter concerned with malignant lesions of sweat glands and hair follicles, has resulted in a pedestrian account of these lesions. The deci sions to define extramammary Paget's disease as "overwhelmingly an apocrine process" and to regard microcystic adnexal carcinoma as a tu mor of follicular differentiation are especially regrettable. A goal of this volume may have been to synthe size the very difficult and often sparse knowledge gleaned from a search of current literature into a meaningful and useful discourse primarily in tended for morphologists. It is only too clear, however, that this book was in fact written by a committee of diverse morphologists, only a few of whom are truly at home in the difficult arena of rare cutaneous malignant tumors. This is not a book that will beguile either the student or the expert. John T. Headington, M.D. Departments of Pathology and Dermatology The University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor, Michigan
Atlas of Diseases of the Oral Mucosa, 4th ed, by Jens J. Pindborg, 357 pp, with illus, $85, Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders Company, 1985 This atlas is arranged according to the Application of the International Classification of Diseases to Dentistry and Stomatology published by the World Health Organization in 1978. Two
BOOK REVIEWS
764
photographs are arranged on each odd-numbered page. Immediately to the left of each photograph, on the even-numbered page, a paragraph de scribes the oral lesion in the illustration and summarizes the salient features of the associated disease process. The photography is superb, and the color is excellent. Most of the photographs were made in Copenhagen with use of a Hasselblad camera. Anyone who has endeavored to take intraoral photographs will certainly appreciate the skills of the photographer. Only after critically scrutinizing dozens of the photographs does one periodically find the telltale reflection of a ring light from the moist mucosal tissue. The atlas con tains a collection of outstanding intraoral photo graphs, and the publisher has used high-quality paper that is suited to the caliber of the photogra phy. For clinicians or diagnosticians, a review of this atlas should be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Obviously, the author must depend on others to provide examples of oral manifestations of dis eases not commonly seen in Copenhagen (for example, leishmaniasis and kwashiorkor). The quality of the photographs from South America and other parts of the world is very good. In the preface, Dr. Pindborg states that 26 new diseases have been added in the current edition and 225 new references have been included in the bibliography. He further states that the discus sion of the oral aspects of the diseases is based on selected recent articles on the subjects. Despite the overall quality of the atlas, the discussions and the photographs must be critically reviewed. Some statements in the text seem to contradict the preface, which describes an updated bibliography. For example, the author states that Hodgkin's disease is a fatal systemic disease. This comment caused me some concern because students may accept as fact such statements found in an appar ently current textbook (copyright 1985). The state ment is in fact outdated and inaccurate. Seven years ago, in the Cecil Textbook of Medicine, Rosenberg 1 cited the 1971 Ann Arbor conference and stated that "Hodgkin's disease can no longer be accepted as a uniformly fatal disease In many institutions the five-year survival rate ex ceeds 75 per cent, and in a few centers has reached 85 per cent, for all patients seen with the disease." Critical scrutiny might also lead the reader to question some of the diagnoses. On page 249, a white lesion on the buccal mucosa is said to
BOOK REVIEWS
Valvular Heart Disease: Comprehensive Evaluation and Management (Cardiovascu lar Clinics, Vol 16, No. 2), edited by William S. Frankl and Albert N. Brest, 567 pp, with illus, $90, Philadelphia, F. A. Davis Company, 1986 Because there have been major advances in the diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease during the past 20 to 30 years, a review of this topic is both timely and warranted. This book includes material from 31 contributors, many of whom are recognized authorities in the field. The book is divided into four parts: (1) general concepts in valvular heart disease, (2) diagnostic methods, (3) specific syndromes, and (4) surgical interven tion and management. The initial chapter, by Dr. Bruce Waller, is a well-written, clinically oriented, fact-laden de scription of the pathologic features of valvular heart disease. The chapter incorporates many of Waller's previous landmark contributions to the field of valvular heart disease. It contains 194 references and numerous tables, illustrations, and photographs of pathologic specimens. The chapter by Stapleton entitled "Natural History of Chronic Valvular Disease" is an ele gant compilation of diagnostic insights and obser vations provided by an experienced clinician. The chapter is replete with practical clinical pointers— for example, the significance of a murmur charac teristic of aortic insufficiency detected along the right sternal border. The section on noninvasive methods includes a classic review of phonocardiographic and echocardiographic correlates by Shaver and Salerni. The chapter on the scintigraphic assessment of patients with valvular heart disease by Iskandrian and Hakki is extremely well referenced and emphasizes the role of radionuclide techniques in the evaluation and management of valvular regurgitant lesions. The section that describes changes in left ventricular volumes and systolic function during exercise and the associated impli cations for the timing of surgical intervention in patients with aortic regurgitation is especially pertinent and timely. Certain specific syndromes, such as mitral valve prolapse, endocarditis, acute mitral and aortic regurgitation, and aortic and mitral valve disease in elderly patients, are dis cussed in individual chapters. The final section is a comprehensive, detailed, in-depth review of surgical intervention and man
Mayo Clin Proc, September 1986, Vol 61
agement, including chapters on the timing of operations for mitral and aortic valve regurgita tion, the selection of a prosthetic valve, the current status of valve surgical procedures in children, and the long-term outcome after valve procedures. The chapter on tricuspid valve operations by Cobanoglu and Starr describes in detail the tech niques of the De Vega and Carpentier tricuspid annuloplasties. Obviously, books of this type cannot be allencompassing. Nevertheless, I believe that cer tain clinical problems, such as the details of anticoagulation therapy for patients with mitral stenosis and the role of electrocardioversion in such patients, receive inadequate attention in this book. As with any multiauthored text, the individ ual writing skills vary, and some overlap of infor mation and repetition are evident. In addition, the role of Doppler echocardiography, although ac knowledged as a major advance in noninvasive diagnostic testing, is not adequately emphasized. This book will be appreciated primarily by cardiologists and internists who have a specific interest in valvular heart disease. Clarence Shub, M.D. Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine
Pathology of Unusual Malignant Cutaneous Tumors (Clinical and Biochemical Analysis, Vol 20), edited by Mark R. Wick, 419 pp, with illus, $69.75, New York, Marcel Dekker, 1985 This book contains seven chapters in which ma lignant primary skin tumors are reviewed. In separate appendixes, methods for some enzyme histochemical determinations and for immunocytochemical staining are presented. The discus sion addresses sweat gland and pilosebaceous carcinomas, neuroendocrine carcinoma, malig nant neoplasms of superficial soft tissue, variant forms of melanoma, and lymphoma. A final chap ter describes selected metastatic tumors. Each chapter was prepared by different au thors. Apparently, no specific overall editorial format was established; thus, the organization of the content is inconsistent from one chapter to another. The depth of review of subjects also varies: the discussion of neuroendocrine carci-
Mayo Clin Proc, September 1986, Vol 61
noma fills 72 pages, yet the entire review of malignant cutaneous soft tissue tumors consists of only 68 pages. Although the chapter on lymphoid neoplasms is well written and contains good general informa tion about lymphomas, it is of little use if the reader wants to learn about lymphomatoid papulosis, the cutaneous lesions of angiocentric lympho mas, pagetoid reticulosis, regressing atypical histiocytosis, or the cutaneous manifestations of angioimmunoblasticlymphadenopathy. The reproduction of the photomicrographs is generally mediocre. Electron photomicrographs of some lesions are included but, as is often the case, seldom augment the morphologic diagnosis. Too few illustrations are incorporated for this text to have value as a reference atlas. Apparent lack of expertise, particularly in the chapter concerned with malignant lesions of sweat glands and hair follicles, has resulted in a pedestrian account of these lesions. The deci sions to define extramammary Paget's disease as "overwhelmingly an apocrine process" and to regard microcystic adnexal carcinoma as a tu mor of follicular differentiation are especially regrettable. A goal of this volume may have been to synthe size the very difficult and often sparse knowledge gleaned from a search of current literature into a meaningful and useful discourse primarily in tended for morphologists. It is only too clear, however, that this book was in fact written by a committee of diverse morphologists, only a few of whom are truly at home in the difficult arena of rare cutaneous malignant tumors. This is not a book that will beguile either the student or the expert. John T. Headington, M.D. Departments of Pathology and Dermatology The University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor, Michigan
Atlas of Diseases of the Oral Mucosa, 4th ed, by Jens J. Pindborg, 357 pp, with illus, $85, Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders Company, 1985 This atlas is arranged according to the Application of the International Classification of Diseases to Dentistry and Stomatology published by the World Health Organization in 1978. Two
BOOK REVIEWS
764
photographs are arranged on each odd-numbered page. Immediately to the left of each photograph, on the even-numbered page, a paragraph de scribes the oral lesion in the illustration and summarizes the salient features of the associated disease process. The photography is superb, and the color is excellent. Most of the photographs were made in Copenhagen with use of a Hasselblad camera. Anyone who has endeavored to take intraoral photographs will certainly appreciate the skills of the photographer. Only after critically scrutinizing dozens of the photographs does one periodically find the telltale reflection of a ring light from the moist mucosal tissue. The atlas con tains a collection of outstanding intraoral photo graphs, and the publisher has used high-quality paper that is suited to the caliber of the photogra phy. For clinicians or diagnosticians, a review of this atlas should be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Obviously, the author must depend on others to provide examples of oral manifestations of dis eases not commonly seen in Copenhagen (for example, leishmaniasis and kwashiorkor). The quality of the photographs from South America and other parts of the world is very good. In the preface, Dr. Pindborg states that 26 new diseases have been added in the current edition and 225 new references have been included in the bibliography. He further states that the discus sion of the oral aspects of the diseases is based on selected recent articles on the subjects. Despite the overall quality of the atlas, the discussions and the photographs must be critically reviewed. Some statements in the text seem to contradict the preface, which describes an updated bibliography. For example, the author states that Hodgkin's disease is a fatal systemic disease. This comment caused me some concern because students may accept as fact such statements found in an appar ently current textbook (copyright 1985). The state ment is in fact outdated and inaccurate. Seven years ago, in the Cecil Textbook of Medicine, Rosenberg 1 cited the 1971 Ann Arbor conference and stated that "Hodgkin's disease can no longer be accepted as a uniformly fatal disease In many institutions the five-year survival rate ex ceeds 75 per cent, and in a few centers has reached 85 per cent, for all patients seen with the disease." Critical scrutiny might also lead the reader to question some of the diagnoses. On page 249, a white lesion on the buccal mucosa is said to