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Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
413
Book Reviews these afflictions and this book provides helpful relevant information. However, because of the differences in therapeutic practice, I would not, at this time, recommend purchase of this book by a UK reader. I would consider a second edition in a few years’ time when therapeutic practices are more similar, and I would also recommend British authors to look at the subject headings incorporated in this book-for it is a comprehensive and useful range. Martyn
Pneunocystis
Carinii
bronchoalveolar
lavage in the diagnosis of pneumonia, again presumably because the references are more recent than this book. Similarly gallium scanning is not mentioned. In conclusion this is a useful background reference work on Pneumocystis carinii but is already too dated if you are looking for a book to give up-to-date information on the management of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in AIDS. Pneumogstis
carinii
Partridge
Pneumonia
Ed. Lowell S. Young New York: Marcel Dekker. 1984. 1st edition. Pp. 272. Price $49.75 (US); $59.50 (all other countries) This book comprises eight chapters written by a total of nine contributors who with one exception work in various centres in the USA. There are chapters dealing with experimental models of Pneumocystis infection, in vivo cultivation of the protozoa, immunological aspects and the value of diagnostic serology. The second half of the book is concerned with clinical aspects including treatment and prevention, and the final chapter is on AIDS. The majority of this book is an authoritative and useful reference work adequately referenced up to 1982. This unfortunately leaves the book looking a little dated particularly as far as the clinical chapters, especially that on AIDS, is concerned. There is considerable overlap and duplication between the clinical chapter and that on AIDS-one has the feeling that the book was commissioned before AIDS became the large problem it is now and that the final chapter was added but not properly integrated into the rest of the book; this is indicated by two different maximum daily doses of pentamidine being quoted on page 177 and page 212. There are an exceptionally large number of spelling mistakes reflecting inadequate proof reading, and a few more serious mistakes such as on page 182 a rise in PCO, to 85 mmHg is mentioned as a good clinical response, on page 209 a PO, of 75 mmHg is regarded as normal. On page 189 there is a statement to avoid pyrimethamine sulfadoxine prophylaxis although there are now references to support its use. There is inadequate reference and discussion of the use of
Norman
Pulmonary Nuclear of Lung Disease
Medicine:
Techniques
Johnson
in Diagnosis
Ed. J. L. Atkins New York: Marcel Dekker. 1984. 1st edition. Pp. 386. Price $69.75 (US); $83.50 (all others) This is an authoritative and comprehensive review of clinical applications of nuclear medicine techniques in respiratory disease. The book begins with a description of those aspects oflung physiology and anatomy which are relevant to the interpretation ofradionuclide studies and then briefly considers the physics of radiopharmaceuticals. There is a comprehensive and balanced review of the value and limitations of ventilation and perfusion scanning in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, probably the most common application of nuclear medicine in lung disease. There is a useful chapter on methods of staging lung cancer, though there is only the briefest mention of the recently introduced technique of tumour localization using glucoheptonate. The chapter on diffuse inliltrative lung disease is a little disappointing. The authors surely must be exaggerating when they claim that gallium scanning plays a central role in diagnosis and management and that it is valuable in fine adjustment of therapy. Presumably because of the inevitably long delay between preparation and publication ofa multiauthor work there is little mention of recent studies of lung epithelial permeability using technetium-labelled DTPA. On the whole I was very impressed with this book and despite its high price I think it is destined to become a standard work ofreference for thoracic physicians and radiologists interested in nuclear medicine. Robin
Rudd
Book Reviews these afflictions and this book provides helpful relevant information. However, because of the differences in therapeutic practice, I would not, at this time, recommend purchase of this book by a UK reader. I would consider a second edition in a few years’ time when therapeutic practices are more similar, and I would also recommend British authors to look at the subject headings incorporated in this book-for it is a comprehensive and useful range. Martyn
Pneunocystis
Carinii
bronchoalveolar
lavage in the diagnosis of pneumonia, again presumably because the references are more recent than this book. Similarly gallium scanning is not mentioned. In conclusion this is a useful background reference work on Pneumocystis carinii but is already too dated if you are looking for a book to give up-to-date information on the management of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in AIDS. Pneumogstis
carinii
Partridge
Pneumonia
Ed. Lowell S. Young New York: Marcel Dekker. 1984. 1st edition. Pp. 272. Price $49.75 (US); $59.50 (all other countries) This book comprises eight chapters written by a total of nine contributors who with one exception work in various centres in the USA. There are chapters dealing with experimental models of Pneumocystis infection, in vivo cultivation of the protozoa, immunological aspects and the value of diagnostic serology. The second half of the book is concerned with clinical aspects including treatment and prevention, and the final chapter is on AIDS. The majority of this book is an authoritative and useful reference work adequately referenced up to 1982. This unfortunately leaves the book looking a little dated particularly as far as the clinical chapters, especially that on AIDS, is concerned. There is considerable overlap and duplication between the clinical chapter and that on AIDS-one has the feeling that the book was commissioned before AIDS became the large problem it is now and that the final chapter was added but not properly integrated into the rest of the book; this is indicated by two different maximum daily doses of pentamidine being quoted on page 177 and page 212. There are an exceptionally large number of spelling mistakes reflecting inadequate proof reading, and a few more serious mistakes such as on page 182 a rise in PCO, to 85 mmHg is mentioned as a good clinical response, on page 209 a PO, of 75 mmHg is regarded as normal. On page 189 there is a statement to avoid pyrimethamine sulfadoxine prophylaxis although there are now references to support its use. There is inadequate reference and discussion of the use of
Norman
Pulmonary Nuclear of Lung Disease
Medicine:
Techniques
Johnson
in Diagnosis
Ed. J. L. Atkins New York: Marcel Dekker. 1984. 1st edition. Pp. 386. Price $69.75 (US); $83.50 (all others) This is an authoritative and comprehensive review of clinical applications of nuclear medicine techniques in respiratory disease. The book begins with a description of those aspects oflung physiology and anatomy which are relevant to the interpretation ofradionuclide studies and then briefly considers the physics of radiopharmaceuticals. There is a comprehensive and balanced review of the value and limitations of ventilation and perfusion scanning in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, probably the most common application of nuclear medicine in lung disease. There is a useful chapter on methods of staging lung cancer, though there is only the briefest mention of the recently introduced technique of tumour localization using glucoheptonate. The chapter on diffuse inliltrative lung disease is a little disappointing. The authors surely must be exaggerating when they claim that gallium scanning plays a central role in diagnosis and management and that it is valuable in fine adjustment of therapy. Presumably because of the inevitably long delay between preparation and publication ofa multiauthor work there is little mention of recent studies of lung epithelial permeability using technetium-labelled DTPA. On the whole I was very impressed with this book and despite its high price I think it is destined to become a standard work ofreference for thoracic physicians and radiologists interested in nuclear medicine. Robin
Rudd