1308 Book Reviews

practice. A remarkable distillation of current concepts has beenpacked into 359 pages. Written by leading experts from NorthAmerica, Europe, and Australia, most chapters are sufficientlydetailed yet remarkably readable. The clinical chapters take thereader from basic concepts to current areas of uncertainty orcontroversy with great clarity. Both the nonpharmacological andpharmacological management of these problems are handleddeftly. Other strengths include high-quality mechanical produc­tion, useful illustrations, generally appropriate references, andsufficiently in-depth coverage for even experts in the field.Deficiencies: The chapter on clinical pharmacology is too brief,superficial, and inadequately referenced.Recommended Readership: This book is a "must" for gastroen­terologists in training because they will routinely encounter pa­tients with these types of disorders in their daily practice. Expe­rienced gastroenterologists may also gain new information byperusing the contents. Physicians in practice, including internistsand family practitioners, will enjoy the practical managementhints. The book should be included in all major medical librariesand be given a prominent place in gastroenterology units.

Overall Grading: *****Nicholas J. Talley, MD, PhD, University ofSydney, Penrith, NewSouth Wales, Australia

Healing Latinos: Realidad y Fantasia; The Art of CulturalCompetence in Medicine, edited by David Hayes-Bautista andRoberto Chiprut, 221 pp, $26, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles,CA 90048, Cedars-Sinai Health System (telephone: 310-794­0663), 1998, ISBN 0-96701 00-0-4

Type of Book: A brief multiauthored collection of personal per­spectives on the care of Latino patients.Scope ofBook: This small volume presents a series of reflectionson the medical care of Latino patients based on the authors'experiences with the large Latino community in the Los Angelesarea.Contents: The book consists of 19 short chapters, each written bya professional with experience in caring for Latino patients. Thecontributors include physicians, clergy, a hospital administrator,and a nutritionist. The introductory chapter presents a definitionof culture and provides a brief description of Latino culture in theUnited States. Subsequent chapters address specific themes, suchas "La Mujer (Woman)," "Magic and Medicine," "DiscoveringCuranderismo," and "The Meaning of Death." Each chapter illus­trates its message with vignettes drawn from the personal experi­ence of the author. One chapter has only 2 pages; the longest is 16pages.Strengths: The chapters are written with care and feeling. Read­ers familiar with Latino culture will find the content authentic.The creative style is a departure from standard medical writing,and many will find this refreshing.Deficiencies: Readers who prefer a traditional textbook formatwill dislike the anecdotal style. The book would be stronger if itincluded more data from the expanding literature on the healthstatus of the Hispanic population in the United States.

Mayo Clio Proc, December 1999, Vol 74

Recommended Readership: All health care workers with an in­terest in Latino patients.Overall Grading: ***Juan M. Bowen, MD, Division of Community Internal Medicine,Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, Minn

Head and Neck Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach, editedby Louis B. Harrison, Roy B. Sessions, and Wuan Ki Hong, 1096pp, with iIIus, $185, Philadelphia, Pa, Lippincott-Raven (tele­phone: 800-638-3030), 1999, ISBN 0-397-51777-7

Type ofBook: A multiauthored textbook on the multidisciplinaryevaluation and treatment of head and neck tumors.Scope ofBook: This text presents the broad range of expertise andawareness of multiple treatment options that are necessary tomanage patients with head and neck tumors successfully.Contents: The book consists of 43 chapters written by recognizedexperts in their fields. The section on basic science reviews epide­miology, etiology, and current concepts of the molecular biologyof invasion and metastasis of head and neck cancer. The sectionon general principles introduces the numerous areas of expertisenecessary to care for patients with head and neck tumors success­fully. The 100-page chapter on pathology of the head and neckcould be a text in itself. Site-specific chapters describe multi­modality treatment options for tumors of specific regions. The lastsection reviews contemporary issues such as future treatmentdirections, gene therapy, and outcome measurements and in­cludes an important discussion of ethical issues in the manage­ment of patients with head and neck tumors.Strengths: The sections on basic science, pathology, and contem­porary issues are especially well written and will be an excellentsource of important information for many years. The radiographicexamples that appear at the end of each site-specific chapter are ofhigh quality and provide an interesting addition not found insimilar texts.Deficiencies: Most multiauthored texts have problems with re­dundancy, and this one is not an exception. Unfortunately, thetreatment options are often presented as competing modalities,rather than the author committing to the single or multiple treat­ment plan that would be best for the patient. Surprisingly, someareas of contemporary management of head and neck tumors arescarcely mentioned, such as the expanded role of laser resectionfor laryngeal cancer and other head and neck tumors and the roleof skull base and parapharyngeal-infratemporal fossa surgery.The importance of the management of comorbid medical condi­tions does not receive the attention it merits.Recommended Readership: This book will be of great value toresidents and fellows in otorhinolaryngology-head and neck sur­gery, radiation oncology, and medical oncology. All surgeons andphysicians who manage patients with head and neck cancers willfind many useful chapters.

Overall Grading: ****Kerry D. Olsen, MD, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, MayoClinic Rochester, Rochester, Minn

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