Braun-Falco's Dermatology [Hardcover]

Walter H.C. Burgdorf (Editor), Gerd Plewig (Editor), Helmut Heinrich Wolff (Editor), Michael Landthaler (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 12, 2008 | ISBN-10: 3540293124 | ISBN-13: 978-3540293125 | Edition: 3rd

Also the 3rd edition of "Dermatology" covers all the classical and related fields of dermatology, providing a wealth of information on diagnostic methods, clinical features, pathophysiology, and differential diagnosis. About 950 excellent photos and diagrams help the reader become acquainted with the immense variety of dermatological diseases. The contents of all chapters have been updated. New chapters have been included covering numerous subjects, e.g. dermatopathology, sonography, disorders of chromosomal instability and defective DNA repair, aging skin, sport dermatology, aesthetic therapy. The book is a must for every doctor confronted with dermatological problems.

Editorial Reviews

From The New England Journal of Medicine

The second edition of the German textbook Dermatology is just that -- a comprehensive reference on the specialty of dermatology. Appearing nine years after the first edition, the second edition is a practical necessity. Nondermatologists may not believe it, but progress in this specialty has been rapid during the intervening years. The new genetics has been eagerly embraced, as have advances in immunology and therapeutics. The study of skin diseases and of their diagnosis and management readily lends itself to graphic images, and modern color publishing has facilitated an explosion of textbooks in this area. A good number of such books consolidate this approach by carrying the moniker ``atlas'' and as such are usually no more than expansively illustrated maps of the integument.

To go further than this and to supplement good illustrations with advice on causes, pathology, diagnosis, and therapy is another dimension altogether. Such a task can be made easier by consistency of style, facilitated by a rigorous editorial hand that keeps the number of chapter authors to a minimum. In Dermatology, the four authors accomplished this task by writing the bulk of the book themselves, on topics ranging from basic science and principles of dermatologic diagnosis to descriptions of individual dermatoses and their therapy. This is no mean feat, but one that intuitively relies on extremely broad knowledge of the specialty. Consistency benefits, but authenticity may suffer, since no four persons can write all the chapters at the level of experts in the field. One could argue, however, that the experts' ivory-tower view can at times be several standard deviations away from the norm and not pertinent to a broad readership. After all, this book is aimed at specialists and nonspecialists alike.

The world of dermatology textbooks is populated by a few well-known, multivolume heavyweights, both metaphorically and literally. Dermatology is a unique inhabitant of this world, in that it is a single, albeit bulky, volume -- a distinct advantage, since the reader knows in which volume to look for information. Although the page layout is consistent, there is room for more color figures and diagrams, but perhaps this was discounted in deference to maintaining the single-volume approach. The book itself is fairly well but not extensively referenced. At times, a somewhat endearing element of anecdote creeps into the text -- a rare phenomenon in the modern, evidence-based world. For instance, in the section on striae distensae (stretch marks), therapy is regarded as ``a bit of luck'' -- that is, the luck of not being predisposed to this scourge of pregnancy. Another example is found on the section on psoriasis. It is well known that psoriasis occurs at different frequencies in different racial groups, and it is commonly believed to be relatively rare in Native Americans. This observation is dismissed with skepticism and the statement that ``one of us ran a clinic for Navajos for a decade and saw more than enough severe psoriasis.'' Some statements are factually incorrect. Again, taking psoriasis as an example, it is stated that monozygotic twins have 90 percent concordance for psoriasis, although the widely quoted figure is closer to 70 percent. This is a minor criticism, but a reference book should be accurate. The limited authorship ensures that the book does not fall foul of another glitch of multiauthorship, in that the information presented is very current and references from 1999 are widely included.

Dermatology is increasingly a surgical specialty. Indeed, the American Academy of Dermatology has considered changing its name to incorporate a reference to dermatologic surgery, thereby emphasizing this trend. It is estimated that of patients attending a general, nonselected dermatology clinic, up to 40 percent may require some form of surgery, ranging from cryotherapy or simple elliptical biopsy to complex flap construction, previously the preserve of the plastic surgeon. The addition of a new chapter on operative technique is a welcome one; however, coverage of laser surgery in a mere 2 1/2 pages is not representative of the value and widespread use of this technique. The other new chapter is that on diagnostic issues specific to black skin, an important and difficult area. The descriptive vocabulary for dermatologic disease was primarily determined with reference to white skin. Thus, the dermatologist is faced with two problems in diagnosing and describing a rash in black skin: first, the morphologic features of common conditions such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis may appear very different from those in white skin, and second, there are a number of dermatoses unique to black skin that are currently described within the context and confines of white-skin dermatology.

Overall, this is a valuable book that deserves a place on the shelves of most medical libraries. It is comprehensive enough in its information to benefit specialists and nonspecialists alike. After all, one can never have enough high-quality dermatology reference books.

Christopher E.M. Griffiths, M.D.
Copyright © 2001 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

Aus den Rezensionen zur 3. Auflage: "...Once you start reading this text book, it is hard to put it down." (Tatjana Ros, in: Serbian Journal of Dermatology and Venereology 2011; 3 (2): 87-88) "... Neben aus den vorangegangenen Auflagen gut bekannten photographischen Darstellungen der beschriebenen Erkrankungen sind viele neue ausdrucksstarke Abbildungen aufgenommen worden. Die … prägnanten Farbfotografien erlauben auch den Einsatz des Lehrbuchs als dermatologischen Atlas. Auf dem neuesten Stand ist das Literaturverzeichnis, das sich im Anschluss an jedes Kapitel findet. ... Keine lediglich erweiterte Neuauflage, sondern eine echte Innovation, deren Anschaffung für jeden Dermatologen in Klinik und Praxis eine sinnvolle Investition darstellt und die er ... zum Zwecke der Diagnosefindung oder Therapie … zur Hand nehmen wird." (Dietrich Abeck, in: druckbesser.de, 31/May/2009)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1732 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 3rd edition (December 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3540293124
• ISBN-13: 978-3540293125
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,121,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, July 19, 2003

By 

Dr VR (India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dermatology (Hardcover)

I have had the oppurtunity to purchase the book as a budding resident in dermatology. To my astonishment, I learnt that the book has enabled me to develop sound academic and clinical skills.
The presentation is remarkable with the text being very lavish in composition and a pleasure to read. The author has given very vivid and lucid descriptions of the entities, portraying personal opinion and trends across the continents (which the other books lack). The photographs too, are excellent. Chapters cover almost the whole of dermatology.
Although the book does need to be supplemented by further reading - it effectively serves the purpose of a second year resident.It fills the gap that other more in-depth textbooks on dermatology lack - the insight for beginners who are new to the subject.
I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to develop sound skills in the field of dermatology.
I thank the authors for their effort and hope they continue further editions of this book and build on scientific matter while retaining the original text, tables and format.

5.0 out of 5 stars love it, February 26, 2011

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Gabby - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dermatology (Thieme Clinical Companions) (Paperback)

I'm starting my dermatology residency and this book is very good for a starter... there's little reviews about the most important diseases and good pictures... I recomend this book!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvellous book!, December 2, 2010

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Dermatologist - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Braun-Falco's Dermatology (Hardcover)

Braun Falco's Dermatology surely has it's place among the main textbooks in dermatology such as Rook, Fitzpatrick and Bolognia. I really enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. Worth every penny! I highly recommend it to everyone interested in dermatology. Amazon's service is great.