Book Reviews

Clinical Gynecologic Oncology and Review CD-ROM(Win/Mac); Philip J. DiSaia, MD, et al., eds, $139.95.Mosby-Year Book Inc, 1998; ISBN:0-8151-9815-9.

This is the CD-ROM version of DiSaia’sClinicalGynecologic Oncology, 5th edition (Mosby-Year Book,Inc., 1997). It contains all text tables, figures, bibliogra-phy, and appendixes that are in the printed text.

The purpose of the CD-ROM version is to provide apractical and comprehensive guide to the diagnosis andmanagement of all gynecologic malignancies. Such agoal is truly worthy and needed. The objective has beenmet. The CD-ROM version extends the value of the textby including review questions and the option of a CMEtest.

This is essential reading for residents in obstetrics andgynecology, obstetricians, and gynecologists. The editorsof each book do not specifically define their audience.The text is too detailed for other specialists who providehealth care for women (internists, family practitioners); ageneral gynecology text is more appropriate. The editorsfor each book are recognized authorities in the discipline.

All gynecologic malignancies are covered in the text.There are also chapters on basic chemotherapy princi-ples, tumor immunology, host defense mechanisms andbiologic therapy, and genes and cancer. There are sevenuseful appendixes that review very practical subjectssuch as blood component therapy, nutritional therapy,and commonly used statistical terms. The search featureis more useful and quicker than the index on the book.Curiously, the User’s Guide has a detailed description oninstalling the program, but none on starting it.

Those with no more than minimal experience usingcomputers and Internet browsing will learn to use theCD-ROM quickly. The search function, the ability todesignate a segment of text as a “Favorite” (basically abookmark), the ability to add and save notes, the reviewquestions, and the CME test make the CD-ROM versionmore user friendly than the book. Expansion of existing

chapters and the addition of new material make this 5thedition worthwhile. I reviewed the CD-ROM with a133mHz portable computer and the response was quick.

James Aiman, MDMedical College of Wisconsin

Breast Cancer,Eva Singletary, MD, editor, 365pages, illustrated; $89.95. New York: Springer-Ver-lag Inc, 1999; ISBN: 0-387-98369-4.

This small volume covers a broad selection of topicsin breast cancer, with an emphasis on new and contro-versial areas.

The purpose is to serve as a bridge between the classiccomprehensive textbook and a journal article, allowingthe reader to remain current in a focused field.

It is written for those who already have a significantbackground in breast disease, because many basics arenot covered. This is a multi-authored text, and the qualityof contributions is somewhat variable. The majority ofthe authors are from the MD Anderson Cancer Center,and some of their contributions reflect an institutionalapproach rather than the wider scope of published liter-ature.

The topics addressed include practical issues such asspecimen evaluation and long-term follow-up, currentcontroversies such as genetics and sentinel node biopsy,and experimental approaches such as laser ablation andcryosurgery. The book is well illustrated with tables,diagrams, and x-rays. It is most successful in its focusedreviews of well-defined topics such as breast MRI orskin-sparing mastectomy. Larger topics such as surgeryfor invasive and noninvasive cancer, adjuvant chemo-therapy, and prognostic factors are less well-addressed inthis brief format.

This book will be most useful to the physician spe-cializing in breast cancer who has a library of majortextbooks and uses this to review selected topics ofinterest.

Monica Morrow, MDNorthwestern University Medical School

The book reviews on this page have been licensed from DoodyPublishing, which owns the copyright to them. For more informationabout Doody Publishing, please contact Kris Horeis, Managing Editor,at 1-800-219-9500.

Annals of Surgical Oncology,7(1):73Published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins © 2000 The Society of Surgical Oncology, Inc.

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