ABC of ear, nose and throat - Harold S. Ludman

This new edition of the best–selling ABC of Otolaryngology offers an up–to–date overview of otolaryngology, and head and neck surgery (ENT). Now in its fifth edition, the ABC of Ear, Nose and Throat advises on how best to manage patients with the most common ENT–related problems. Thoroughly revised and updated, this new edition includes extra chapters on facial pain, head and neck tumours, sleep apnoea and epistaxis, as well as recent advances in ENT evaluation and investigations (especially CT and MRI) and minimally invasive techniques. New material on voice, breathing and swallowing disorders, hearing impairment and cochlear implants has been added, with new pictures, illustrations and algorithms throughout. The ABC of Ear, Nose and Throat offers an essential introduction to this fundamental speciality for students, whilst providing a practical reference for GPs, GP registrars, junior doctors and nurses.

Harold S Ludman, Consultant surgeon in neuro–otology, National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London (retired), UK; and Emeritus consultant surgeon in otolaryngology, King’s College Hospital, London (retired), UK.Patrick J Bradley, Consultant otorhinolaryngologist; head and neck oncologic surgeon, University Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.

This concise, organized, and well–illustrated text is aimed at the nonspecialist or the trainee who treats head and neck disease. There are very few books like this, and it fills an important role. The topic list is fairly comprehensive. The text addresses the major everyday otolaryngology issues facing the average clinician, as well as newer and more advanced topics such as cochlear implantation. Topics covered include ear pain, ear discharge, hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, sinusitis, sore throat, swallowing problems, snoring and apnea, trauma, epistaxis, neck mass, and head and neck cancer. Each chapter is organized around a differential diagnosis with brief comments about each topic. The writing is concise and organized, and the authors avoid going into extensive detail but rather focus on the salient points of diagnosis and management. The clinician faced with one of these clinical problems will likely find the text very useful. The text has been updated nicely, with contemporary diagnosis and treatment information. Evolvingtreatment paradigms, such as those for adult hearing loss, rhinosinusitis, and head and neck cancer, are also included. However, the text does not detail surgical techniques or perioperative management, as those topics are not pertinent to the intended readership. A real strength of the text is the quality of the illustrations. All chapters are very well illustrated, in color, with a good mix of line drawings, charts, clinical photos, and radiologic images. For example, the chapter on vertigo has a cartoon nicely demonstrating the Dix–Hallpike test, and the chapter ‘‘Neck Swellings’’ has several high–quality illustrative clinical photos. Several chapters also have detailed flowchart algorithms for diagnosis and/or treatment options. Each chapter has a few ‘‘Further Reading’’ topics and not individual citations, which is appropriate for a book of this scope. This text is aimed at the trainee, general practitioner, or nurse, and it is exactly appropriate for those groups. It is a timely update of a popular series, and is highly recommended for the targeted readership. Review in Head and Neck 31;3 MICHAEL G. STEWART, MD, MPH New York, New York –––––––– Review of previous edition: " Remarkably informative and readable" Australian Journal of Otolaryngology