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Differential Diagnosis in Obstetrics and Gynaecology: an A–Z Editor Tony Hollingworth This 373-page book covers a broad range of topics in both obstetrics and gynaecology. The chapters are in alphabetical order and include both common and unusual conditions such as headache, pubic pain and urinary retention in pregnancy, postoperative keloids and hypertrophic scars. The contributing authors are well known experts in their respective fields and come from several countries, including Australia, India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the UK. The text is easy to understand and provides helpful boxes of summarised information for quick reference. The high quality of the diagrams and illustrations deserves special mention. There is an appendix at the end, which contains common definitions and lists tumour staging. The book takes the reader beyond the realms of general obstetrics and gynaecology and allows a wider understanding of various subjects, such as chest pain, haematemesis in pregnancy and differential diagnoses of abdominal pain. This is a refreshing change from the standard textbooks of obstetrics and gynaecology. It takes the reader back to the days of medical school and early clinical years when a patient was considered an individual and not compartmentalised, with an expert to deal with each compartment. My only criticism of the book is the alphabetical order of topics. This may be useful for ready reference, but the reader has to keep mentally jumping chapters from obstetrics to gynaecology or the reverse, which can sometimes obstruct the flow of reading. Nevertheless, this publication is a very valuable addition to the medical bookshelf. It will be useful to every grade of healthcare professional, including general practitioners, junior doctors and senior medical staff. It can be used as a reference book, a quick revision guide before exams or simply to boost the reader’s existing knowledge, which can then be shown off in multidisciplinary meetings. The text is well referenced and lists helpful resources and websites for further reading and information. I would certainly recommend it to anyone with a specialised interest in obstetrics and gynaecology. Reviewer Kalpana Upadhyay MRCOG Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Wrexham Maelor Hospital,Wrexham, UK Hodder Arnold, 2008 ISBN 9780340928257 Paperback, 373 pages, £34.99 10.1576/toag.11.4.294.27537 (page 2 of 12) Book reviews The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist © 2009 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists http://onlinetog.org

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Differential Diagnosis inObstetrics and Gynaecology:an A–Z

Editor Tony Hollingworth

This 373-page book covers a broad range of topics inboth obstetrics and gynaecology. The chapters are inalphabetical order and include both common andunusual conditions such as headache, pubic painand urinary retention in pregnancy, postoperativekeloids and hypertrophic scars. The contributingauthors are well known experts in their respectivefields and come from several countries, includingAustralia, India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and theUK. The text is easy to understand and provideshelpful boxes of summarised information for quickreference. The high quality of the diagrams andillustrations deserves special mention. There is anappendix at the end, which contains commondefinitions and lists tumour staging.

The book takes the reader beyond the realms ofgeneral obstetrics and gynaecology and allows awider understanding of various subjects, such aschest pain, haematemesis in pregnancy anddifferential diagnoses of abdominal pain. This is arefreshing change from the standard textbooks ofobstetrics and gynaecology. It takes the reader backto the days of medical school and early clinical yearswhen a patient was considered an individual and

not compartmentalised, with an expert to deal witheach compartment.

My only criticism of the book is the alphabeticalorder of topics. This may be useful for readyreference, but the reader has to keep mentallyjumping chapters from obstetrics to gynaecology orthe reverse, which can sometimes obstruct the flowof reading.

Nevertheless, this publication is a very valuableaddition to the medical bookshelf. It will be usefulto every grade of healthcare professional, includinggeneral practitioners, junior doctors and seniormedical staff. It can be used as a reference book, aquick revision guide before exams or simply toboost the reader’s existing knowledge, which canthen be shown off in multidisciplinary meetings.The text is well referenced and lists helpfulresources and websites for further reading andinformation. I would certainly recommend it toanyone with a specialised interest in obstetrics andgynaecology.

Reviewer Kalpana Upadhyay MRCOG

Consultant in Obstetrics and GynaecologyWrexham Maelor Hospital, Wrexham, UK

Hodder Arnold, 2008ISBN 9780340928257 Paperback, 373 pages, £34.9910.1576/toag.11.4.294.27537

(page 2of 12)

Book reviews The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist

© 2009 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

http://onlinetog.org

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