BOOK REVIEWS

ATLAS OF THE HISTOPATHOLOGY OF EAR TUMOURS By P. B . Gerlings, 165pp, illus, University Park Press, Baltimore, MD, 1979. $79.50

Pathologists have tended to ignore the ear and its pa- thology. The development of this subject has been kept relatively current largely because of contribu- tions by otologists. Professor Gerlings has helped by providing a compendium of benign and malignant neo- plasms that may affect the ear. The book contains 216 photomicrographs with occasional color plates. Brief histopathologic descriptions accompany the photo- micrographs and aid in their interpretation. This Atlas occasionally suffers from a poor photomi- crograph of gross or microscopic pathology. It is evi- dent that these were added for completeness, yet the pathology is difficult to visualize, and, as a result, these illustrations ultimately detract from the quality of the Atlas.

This Atlas will be useful for pathologists and otologists alike as a reference, both for interpreting pathologic specimens and for teaching this subject to interested parties.

JEFFRY HARRIS, MD, PHD San Diego, California

OCULOPLASTIC SURGERY By Charles E . Iliff, W. Jackson Iliff, Nicholas T . Iliff 348 pp, illus, W B Saunders Co., Philadelphia, P A , 1979. $110.00

This is an outstanding book. I t is written by ophthal- mologists with 30 years of experience, whose writing gives you the feeling that your father is telling you how it should be done. While the book is most likely in- tended for ophthalmologists interested in ophthalmic plastic surgery, the book is so well done that anyone interested in any aspect of surgery of the eyelids and their adnexa stands to gain from it. The book includes chapters on ptosis; blepharoplasty; ectropion and en- tropion; thyroid disease; lacrimal tract surgery; mucoceles; evisceration, enucleation, and extruded im- plants; tumors of the lids and adnexa; congenital de- fects: and trauma. Each chapter describes the pathol-

ogies and diagnoses encountered and then describes those surgical procedures that have been found most useful by the authors.

The book is beautifully written and beautifully il- lustrated, and the quality ofthe description is such that even the neophyte to this area should be able to learn a great deal about this kind of surgery. Anyone a t all ex- perienced in oculoplastic surgery will find these de- scriptions to have tremendous value. All the informa- tion is carefully weighed against conflicting opinions, risks, and complications. The bibliography is virtually nonexistent, but since the material represents the au- thors’ feelings, philosophies, and experiences, a bibliog- raphy is not really necessary. The index is g o d , the text is readable, and the illustrations are excellent. They include absolutely gorgeous diagrams, sup- plemented by beautiful color pictures illustrating vir- tually every major technique described. Every chapter is excellent and educational, and if any unfavorable sections exist, I was far too enamored with the book overall to notice them. I recommend this book to every head and neck surgeon and it is required reading for anyone with significant interest in oculoplastic surgery.

TERENCE M. DAVIDSON, MD San Diego, California

COMPLICATIONS OF HEAD AND NECK SURGERY Edited by John J . Conle-y, 524 pp, illus, W B Saunders Co., Philadelphia. P A , 1979. $35.00

John Conley has done a truly outstanding job in or- ganizing, writing, and editing a compendium of experi- ence on the treatment of complications in almost every aspect of head and neck surgery. In just under 500 pages, experts from otolaryngology, plastic and general surgery, as well as dentistry and other indirectly re- lated disciplines, present a wealth of collective experi- ence gained over many years. This will most certainly become a basic reference for practitioners and para- medical and support personnel who are involved with head and neck surgery. Furthermore, it should be required reading for trainees of head and neck surgical disciplines if only because of the legal profession, who

76 HEAD & NECK SURGERY SePtIOct 1980