Book Review: Rongioletti F, Smoller BR (eds.). Clinical and Pathological Aspects of Skin Diseases in Endocrine, Metabolic, Nutritional and Deposition Disease. New York: Springer; 2010

Abstract

This is an ambitious undertaking, as suggested by the lengthy title, and the authors successfully cover endocrine, metabolic, nutritional, and deposition disorders. The book is all the more thorough as there is seamless assimilation of clinical, histologic, and radiologic information for these diseases. The aims are fulfilled with 1) concise text, 2) atlas-like inclusion of over 174 clinical photos and 116 histopathologic photomicrographs, 3) insight into the clinical appearance and course of disease, 4) detailed histopathologic descriptions, 5) therapeutic options, and 6) bulleted key points. This book should appeal to all dermatopathologists, as it is compact, richly illustrated, and easy to read. Some minor criticisms include a need for white balancing many of the histopathologic photomicrographs and for improvement of brightness and color of the clinical photographs. Despite this, the figures more than adequately depict the numerous diseases summarized in this book. In particular, some of the images not to be missed include beautiful clinical examples of necrobiosis lipoidica (Fig. 2.1), pretibial myxedema (plaque-type) (Fig. 3.2), acromegaly (Fig. 4.1), eruptive xanthoma (Fig. 6.4), fixed drug (Fig. 14.6), and primary systemic amyloidosis (Fig. 17.4). This atlas further delves into variants of granuloma annulare (chapter 2), pretibial myxedema (chapter 3), xanthomas (chapter 6), and mucinoses (chapter 18). While this is a strength, it also is a minor weakness, as the appetite is whetted to see even more images of rare variants like discrete papular lichen myxedematosus and pure nodular lichen myxedematosus. The authors are recognized experts in the subjects covered in this book, and even while achieving their broad aims, the authors include valuable pearls throughout the text. Some involve differentiating certain disorders: for example, acne secondary to hypercorticism lacks comedones and cysts (unlike acne vulgaris), siderosis around eccrine glands may be specific for idiopathic hemochromatosis, and the linear array of papules is a clue for scleromyxedema as opposed to scleredema or scleroderma. A treatment pearl is using the hyperpigmentation of Addison disease to monitor disease activity. As the authors’ expertise shines through with comprehensive coverage of the myriad diseases, it would be of value to know their opinion on issues like: Lichen myxedematosus – how frequently is it associated with paraproteinemia or other systemic findings [1]? Should all cases be screened and, if so, just once? Reticular erythematous mucinosis – the literature suggests many cases are associated with autoimmune disorders [2]. Is the author’s experience different? Calciphylaxis – how often is it not in the setting of renal failure [3, 4]? Is there a better prognosis if not truncal? Overall, this book succinctly achieves a wide-ranging look at endocrine, metabolic, nutritional, and deposition disease. Concise text accompanies numerous photographs and photomicrographs, enabling the reader to get a handle on these diseases clinically and histopathologically. This is a worthy read for anyone interested in these disorders.