BOOK REVIEWS

The M.D. Anderson SurgicalOncology Handbook, 4th EditionEditors: Feig, Barry W., MD, FACS; Berger, David H.,MD; Fuhrman, George M., MD

Bibliographic Data: (ISBN: 978-0-7817-5643-3, SeriesTitle: A Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Handbook Se-ries, ISBN-10: 078175643X, 2006, $49.95) 719 pages,soft cover.

Subject: Surgical Oncology

Description: With this handbook, the authors provide aconcise, user friendly manual covering a wide variety ofimportant surgical oncology topics. The chapters are di-vided by organ site and cover a large body of knowledge inan efficient manner.

Purpose: The authors’ stated purpose is to document thephilosophies and practices of the department of surgicaloncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. The book isintended as a practical handbook and is organized by dis-ease site.

Audience: This handbook is directed at surgeons intraining (residents or fellows) who need up-to-date andconcise information to help direct day-to-day cancercare. Each chapter has a brief introduction and pertinentliterature review (5–10 pages) followed by useful guide-lines based upon current NCCN and MD Andersonrecommendations. This edition has added new chaptersand updated information in the existing chapters. Au-thors are all current or former MD Anderson surgicaloncology graduates.

Features: Each chapter covers a specific cancer arisingfrom a specific organ system such as breast, colon, or liver.The chapters provide basic introductory information, per-tinent literature review, current AJCC TNM staging, andtreatment algorithms. Diagrams and treatment guidelinesare specific and direct. Controversial topics are mentionedbriefly. The MD Anderson preferred treatment is empha-sized. The handbook is not an exhaustive review of theliterature and readers should use it as an adjunct, not de-finitive, text.

Assessment: The handbook is well written and managesto cover a large amount of data in a very compact andconcise manner. Tables and diagrams are used well, makingit a user friendly resource.

Score: Numerical Weighted Score: 86 - 3 Stars

Reviewed by: Neal Wilkinson, MD, (University of IowaHospitals and Clinics)

Modern Surgical Care: PhysiologicFoundations and ClinicalApplications 3rd EditionEditor: Miller, Thomas A., MD

Bibliographic Data: (ISBN: 0-8247-2869-6, 2 VolumeSet. Informa Healthcare/Taylor & Francis, 2006, $399.95)1241 pages, hard cover.

Description: This is the third edition of a book that em-phasizes the physiology of organ systems affected by surgi-cal problems and procedures. The first edition was pub-lished in 1988 and the second edition in 1998.

Purpose: Surgical disease is presented in the context ofphysiologic changes.

Audience: Students and residents with a broad interest insurgical disease will find this book attractive. Editors andauthors are American authorities in surgery and representleading medical schools in North America.

Features: Initial chapters cover the general managementof the surgical patient with consideration of infection,bleeding disorders, shock, neoplasia, and anesthesia. A sec-ond group of chapters discuss surgical physiology by organsystem proceeding first through the gastrointestinal tractfollowed by the cardiovascular, nervous, peripheral vascu-lar, and endocrine systems. Wound healing and cutaneousconsiderations are discussed followed by reviews of physi-ologic changes at the extremes of life. Chapters are writtenin detail and contain extensive reference lists dating towithin two to three years of publication. Black-and-whiteline drawings, photographs, and radiographs appear through-out, but print quality could be better in some of the figures.The table of contents provides chapters in appropriatelyorganized groups, gives authorship, and provides subhead-ings for each presentation. A 20 page extensive subjectindex concludes the book.

Assessment: I agree with the observation made by Dr.Miller in his preface that the Approach to surgical disordersis frequently based on memorized schemes or protocolsrather than thorough understanding of pathophysiology.This book is an appropriate tool to address this problem.While this is a complementary rather than a stand alonetext, I enjoyed reading it. It will be of particular service tothose working in preparation for in-training and boardexaminations.

Score: Numerical Weighted Score: 86 - 3 Stars

Reviewed by: David J. Dries, MD, (University of Min-nesota Medical School)

732© 2007 by the American College of Surgeons ISSN 1072-7515/07/$32.00Published by Elsevier Inc. doi:10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2007.01.020