McCarthy, a pathologist, and Frassica, an orthopedic surgeon, both at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, have collaborated to produce an eminently readable and informative book. In the introduction they state that the book is designed to be an introductory textbook for residents in pathology and orthopedic surgery and that it represents the minimum that such residents should aspire to learn during their residency. The authors have succeeded admirably in this plan. They present the entire spectrum of radiologic and pathological features of diseases of the bones and joints in logical sequence. The text is lucidly written, and the book can easily be read from cover to cover. This comprehensive and current book could be a useful addition to the libraries of practicing general orthopedic surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists as well as of those with a more specialized interest in the field.
The first chapter, an overview of skeletal diseases, emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis of these diseases. It is followed by an elegantly illustrated and valuable review of the anatomy and physiology of bone. The succeeding chapters are devoted to detailed clinical, radiologic, and pathological features of bone and joint diseases, grouped into several disease categories. A later chapter reviews joint arthroplasty, including historical aspects and the features of failed prostheses. The final chapter gives practical advice on biopsy techniques and on the handling of surgical specimens. The success of such a book depends on high-quality images, and the carefully chosen illustrations -- radiologic images and gross and microscopical specimens -- are indeed of excellent quality.
The locations of certain neoplasms described in the text, however, do not always correspond precisely to the locations depicted in the diagrams of the skeleton; for instance, lymphomas are described as occurring more frequently in jawbones but not illustrated this way. The text is accurate, with only a rare exception. In discussing the relation of osteofibrous dysplasia to adamantinoma, the authors state that no case of transformation of osteofibrous dysplasia to adamantinoma has been reported, but such cases have, in fact, been reported. These minor imperfections notwithstanding, this is an excellent book.
Reviewed by Leonard B. Kahn, M.D.
Product Description
This comprehensive text presents a practical approach to all aspects of diseases of the bone and joints. Emphasizes a team approach to diagnosis and treatment which integrates numerous medical specialties in the various stages of patient care, and stresses conservative management with judicious use of diagnostic tests and treatment procedures. Each disease category has a short historical introduction, a clinical discussion, a radiographic analysis, a description of the histopathology, and treatment suggestions. The text is complimented by the liberal use of photographs, radiographs, photomicrographs, and diagrams.
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