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Soft tissue tumors
Book reviews I
Allergic contact dermatitis to simple chemicals: A molecular approach Gilles Dupuis and Claude Benezra, New York, 1982, Marcel Dekker Inc. 183 pages. $35. This book introduces the subject of allergic contact dermatitis succinctly and clearly. Mainly, it compiles and illustrates most of the major haptens and their possible binding relationships to "proteinic" substances functioning as carriers for hapten-carrier complexes. This molecular approach to chemicals causing allergic contact dermatitis is, to me, the preferred way to begin studying contact dermatitis. Residents who have a tendency to view the haptens of the world as just another laundry list to cope with should find this book a thinking m a n ' s introduction to contact dermatitis. It will not take the place of a full text on the subject, but it will turn out to be a useful reference for finding the chemical structures of many haptens and why cross-reactions with others occur. The authors point out in the preface that a more complete description of the immunologic aspects of allergic contact dermatitis should be sought in other works. Their book proposes an original classification for the haptens involved in allergic contact dermatitis. They feel that this classification could serve to predict allergic potential of new chemicals. They have expanded on the works of Landsteiner and Eisen that showed that there is a relationship between chemical reactivity and sensitization potential. Godfrey and H. Baer showed that two other physicochemical factors, namely, solubility and effective dose remaining at the induction skin site, bear heavily on antigenicity. E v e n a chemical's own irritancy potential may play a role in sensitization. None of these factors are mentioned in the text. When dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB), and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide appear in the same table with methyl and ethyl paraben because they all h a v e susceptible nucleophilic substitution at an unsaturated center, then factors other than their reactivity relationships with carrier proteins must be important. These factors will have to be addressed before predictions about sensitization potential can ever be entertained. T w o phototoxic substances, psoralen and an-
I
I
Ill
thracene, are described in separate sentences as photoallergens.
William P. Jordan, Jr., M.D. Richmond, VA Hair transplantation for the treatment of male pattern baldness Charles P. Vallis, M.D., Springfield, IL, 1982, Charles C Thomas, Publisher. 593 pages. $69.75. For the physician interested in hair transplantation, this is a worthwhile book to peruse. The authors cover the subjects of round and square plug transplants, free strips and transposed flaps, and hair lifting/scalp reduction. In fact, the titIe is not inclusive enough since the book covers more than male pattern baldness, e.g., eyebrow and cicatricial alopecias. It is massively illustrated with some very good material, but, unfortunately, this prominent feature is diluted out with many photographs that are out of focus or repetitious. The other difficulty is the failure to use fixed photographic conditions (lighting, distance, and aperture) for all pre- and post- figures. The book is overly Iong (593 pages) and, additionally, suffers from the editorial handling of each chapter independently from all others, so that information common to several chapters is repeated many times. However, despite these limitations, the book is worth wading through for its historical thoroughness and its attention to detail, an essential aspect of any "how t o " book.
Norman Orentreich, M.D. New York, NY Soft tissue tumors Franz M. Enzinger, M.D., and Sharon W. Weiss, M.D., St. Louis, 1983, The C. V. Mosby Co. $99.95. 840 pages. Soft tissue tumors have long served as a stumbling block to dermatologists. While some of these growths, such as dermatofibromas, hemangiomas, or lymphangiomas, can be identified clinically, most present as subcutaneous "lumps or
575
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
576 Book reviews
bumps" which can be diagnosed only after biopsy. All concerned agree that the pathologic interpretation of these proliferations can be extremely difficult. For many years the papers of Franz M. Enzinger and, in recent years, his associate Sharon W. Weiss have served as milestones in soft tissue pathology. Now these two renowned pathologists from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology have condensed their collective wisdom into a masterful new book. Much to my relief, Soft Tissue Tumors is not a compilation of their previous excellent papers, but instead is an entirely new fresh effort to totally summarize and unify this challenging field. The text is crisp, selectively referenced, and attempts to clarify the confusing terminology which plagues the field, rather than introduce new names and systems of classification. The pictures number 1,140; the microscopic views are weli chosen, sharply reproduced, and adroitly labeled. Some of the clinical pictures, such as that of juvenile xanthogranuloma, will make a clinical dermatologist shudder, but this defect should be easy to correct. As an amateur dermatopathologist at best, I am reluctant to comment on the scientific accuracy of this text, and I leave that to other experienced soft tissue pathologists. However, I have had an abiding interest in benign fibrous proliferations and can commend this section for its accuracy and balanced approach. Because the rest of the text dealt with topics well outside my expertise, I found it challenging but instructive. Tumors of blood vessels, fat, nerves, muscles, and other mesenchymal structures are encountered frequently in dermatopathology. I now feel more comfortable approaching these lesions, both because of my new fund of knowledge and because I have a place to turn, whether I want to "match pictures" or read in depth. Surely every dermatology department and dermatopathology laboratory will need to have this book immediately available. In addition, I am sure that many practicing dermatologists will want to acquire Soft Tissue Tumors to acquaint themselves with the latest information in this perplexing area, Walter H. C. Burgdorf, M.D. Oklahoma City, OK
Stalking the perfect tan Gary B. Trudeau, New York, 1978, Holt, Rinehart & Winston. Soft cover, $3.95.
Garfield gains weight Jim Davis, New York, 1981, Ballantine Books I n c . - - A Division of Random House. Soft cover, $5.95.
Another Saturday night of wild and reckless abandon Cathy Guisewite, Fairway, KS, 1982, Andrews & McMeel Inc. (A Universal Press Syndicate company). Soft cover, 128 pages. $5.95. Because we all grew up gazing at comic books, the movie screen, and, later, the TV screen, we ought not be surprised that for adults today the four-box comic strip is one of our favorite literary devices suitable for our most serious daily commentaries. We are expert readers of short picture stories. For us, four pictures truly can be worth a dozen dull essays. The Sunday church sermon, or, possibly the three-column newspaper editorial were preferred by our grandparents, but those ponderous forms have been replaced by TV tapes, 120minute films, political cartoons, and, especially, by the short comics in the daily newspapers. Today, among the most influential comic strips are "Doonesberry," "Cathy," and "Garfield." To explore the more threatening public and personal issues particularly, readers prefer this short literary form with which they are so comfortable, one that offers them much protective humor, calming allegory, and reassuring characters. These comic strips instruct readers about current events and often about medical and personal health issues. Most people know Gary Trudeau's character, "Zonker," who is ridiculed thoroughly for his pursuit of the perfect tan; but few may recall any advice from their dermatologist about protecting their skin from excessive radiation. "Garfield" is a 35-pound lasagna-loving, garrulous, nearly human house cat who is totally selfish. "Garfield's" only regard for his loyal altruistic owner, Jon, is that someone be around to feed and care for "Garfield." "Garfield" is so engrossed in "number one" that he has no time for any affiliations outside himself. As a result, he is unproductive and makes trouble for others, thoughtlessly. Thirty years ago, many forecasters
Allergic contact dermatitis to simple chemicals: A molecular approach Gilles Dupuis and Claude Benezra, New York, 1982, Marcel Dekker Inc. 183 pages. $35. This book introduces the subject of allergic contact dermatitis succinctly and clearly. Mainly, it compiles and illustrates most of the major haptens and their possible binding relationships to "proteinic" substances functioning as carriers for hapten-carrier complexes. This molecular approach to chemicals causing allergic contact dermatitis is, to me, the preferred way to begin studying contact dermatitis. Residents who have a tendency to view the haptens of the world as just another laundry list to cope with should find this book a thinking m a n ' s introduction to contact dermatitis. It will not take the place of a full text on the subject, but it will turn out to be a useful reference for finding the chemical structures of many haptens and why cross-reactions with others occur. The authors point out in the preface that a more complete description of the immunologic aspects of allergic contact dermatitis should be sought in other works. Their book proposes an original classification for the haptens involved in allergic contact dermatitis. They feel that this classification could serve to predict allergic potential of new chemicals. They have expanded on the works of Landsteiner and Eisen that showed that there is a relationship between chemical reactivity and sensitization potential. Godfrey and H. Baer showed that two other physicochemical factors, namely, solubility and effective dose remaining at the induction skin site, bear heavily on antigenicity. E v e n a chemical's own irritancy potential may play a role in sensitization. None of these factors are mentioned in the text. When dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB), and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide appear in the same table with methyl and ethyl paraben because they all h a v e susceptible nucleophilic substitution at an unsaturated center, then factors other than their reactivity relationships with carrier proteins must be important. These factors will have to be addressed before predictions about sensitization potential can ever be entertained. T w o phototoxic substances, psoralen and an-
I
I
Ill
thracene, are described in separate sentences as photoallergens.
William P. Jordan, Jr., M.D. Richmond, VA Hair transplantation for the treatment of male pattern baldness Charles P. Vallis, M.D., Springfield, IL, 1982, Charles C Thomas, Publisher. 593 pages. $69.75. For the physician interested in hair transplantation, this is a worthwhile book to peruse. The authors cover the subjects of round and square plug transplants, free strips and transposed flaps, and hair lifting/scalp reduction. In fact, the titIe is not inclusive enough since the book covers more than male pattern baldness, e.g., eyebrow and cicatricial alopecias. It is massively illustrated with some very good material, but, unfortunately, this prominent feature is diluted out with many photographs that are out of focus or repetitious. The other difficulty is the failure to use fixed photographic conditions (lighting, distance, and aperture) for all pre- and post- figures. The book is overly Iong (593 pages) and, additionally, suffers from the editorial handling of each chapter independently from all others, so that information common to several chapters is repeated many times. However, despite these limitations, the book is worth wading through for its historical thoroughness and its attention to detail, an essential aspect of any "how t o " book.
Norman Orentreich, M.D. New York, NY Soft tissue tumors Franz M. Enzinger, M.D., and Sharon W. Weiss, M.D., St. Louis, 1983, The C. V. Mosby Co. $99.95. 840 pages. Soft tissue tumors have long served as a stumbling block to dermatologists. While some of these growths, such as dermatofibromas, hemangiomas, or lymphangiomas, can be identified clinically, most present as subcutaneous "lumps or
575
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
576 Book reviews
bumps" which can be diagnosed only after biopsy. All concerned agree that the pathologic interpretation of these proliferations can be extremely difficult. For many years the papers of Franz M. Enzinger and, in recent years, his associate Sharon W. Weiss have served as milestones in soft tissue pathology. Now these two renowned pathologists from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology have condensed their collective wisdom into a masterful new book. Much to my relief, Soft Tissue Tumors is not a compilation of their previous excellent papers, but instead is an entirely new fresh effort to totally summarize and unify this challenging field. The text is crisp, selectively referenced, and attempts to clarify the confusing terminology which plagues the field, rather than introduce new names and systems of classification. The pictures number 1,140; the microscopic views are weli chosen, sharply reproduced, and adroitly labeled. Some of the clinical pictures, such as that of juvenile xanthogranuloma, will make a clinical dermatologist shudder, but this defect should be easy to correct. As an amateur dermatopathologist at best, I am reluctant to comment on the scientific accuracy of this text, and I leave that to other experienced soft tissue pathologists. However, I have had an abiding interest in benign fibrous proliferations and can commend this section for its accuracy and balanced approach. Because the rest of the text dealt with topics well outside my expertise, I found it challenging but instructive. Tumors of blood vessels, fat, nerves, muscles, and other mesenchymal structures are encountered frequently in dermatopathology. I now feel more comfortable approaching these lesions, both because of my new fund of knowledge and because I have a place to turn, whether I want to "match pictures" or read in depth. Surely every dermatology department and dermatopathology laboratory will need to have this book immediately available. In addition, I am sure that many practicing dermatologists will want to acquire Soft Tissue Tumors to acquaint themselves with the latest information in this perplexing area, Walter H. C. Burgdorf, M.D. Oklahoma City, OK
Stalking the perfect tan Gary B. Trudeau, New York, 1978, Holt, Rinehart & Winston. Soft cover, $3.95.
Garfield gains weight Jim Davis, New York, 1981, Ballantine Books I n c . - - A Division of Random House. Soft cover, $5.95.
Another Saturday night of wild and reckless abandon Cathy Guisewite, Fairway, KS, 1982, Andrews & McMeel Inc. (A Universal Press Syndicate company). Soft cover, 128 pages. $5.95. Because we all grew up gazing at comic books, the movie screen, and, later, the TV screen, we ought not be surprised that for adults today the four-box comic strip is one of our favorite literary devices suitable for our most serious daily commentaries. We are expert readers of short picture stories. For us, four pictures truly can be worth a dozen dull essays. The Sunday church sermon, or, possibly the three-column newspaper editorial were preferred by our grandparents, but those ponderous forms have been replaced by TV tapes, 120minute films, political cartoons, and, especially, by the short comics in the daily newspapers. Today, among the most influential comic strips are "Doonesberry," "Cathy," and "Garfield." To explore the more threatening public and personal issues particularly, readers prefer this short literary form with which they are so comfortable, one that offers them much protective humor, calming allegory, and reassuring characters. These comic strips instruct readers about current events and often about medical and personal health issues. Most people know Gary Trudeau's character, "Zonker," who is ridiculed thoroughly for his pursuit of the perfect tan; but few may recall any advice from their dermatologist about protecting their skin from excessive radiation. "Garfield" is a 35-pound lasagna-loving, garrulous, nearly human house cat who is totally selfish. "Garfield's" only regard for his loyal altruistic owner, Jon, is that someone be around to feed and care for "Garfield." "Garfield" is so engrossed in "number one" that he has no time for any affiliations outside himself. As a result, he is unproductive and makes trouble for others, thoughtlessly. Thirty years ago, many forecasters