Principles and Practice of Head and Neck Oncology

Abstract

To review for a general readership a book on such a highly specialist topic is a daunting task. But Principles and Practice of Head and Neck Oncology presented a more practical difficulty: the subject is inherently gory, and with its many images of operations and flaps the book is not suitable reading for train or plane journeys. Fellow passengers will be observed straining for a closer look, and you become anxious about turning the page for fear of what comes next. Although the subject matter is not the most pleasant, it is certainly important and challenging. The book is comprehensive, dealing with all modalities of tumour therapy. Altogether, there are 32 chapters, divided into four main sections—namely, basic principles of management; mainly squamous neoplasms; mainly non-squamous neoplasms; and rehabilitation and reconstruction. It was no surprise to find a chapter on the molecular biology of head and neck cancers, an important research area linking science with surgery and clinical medicine. What was surprising was the clarity of the exposition: with its vivid coloured diagrams and its comprehensive glossary of terms it makes the subject understandable even to a surgeon, and will certainly be of interest to the general medical reader. A controversial question over the past few years concerns who should deal with thyroid gland swellings. Thyroid surgery was for a long time in the realm of the ‘general surgeon’ but has moved to the remit of the specialist ‘endocrine surgeon’. This false demarcation is now challenged by the head and neck surgeons, for whom the thyroid gland is familiar territory. The book therefore contains a comprehensive detailed chapter on tumours of the thyroid and another on the parathyroid gland. These chapters will be of interest and value to all surgeons dealing with these tumours. I like the way the book deals with clinical controversies. One issue in which I take a particular interest is the management of early laryngeal carcinoma and carcinoma-in-situ. Rather than provide didactic information, it offers a balanced text and numerous tables (highlighted in purple) displaying the results of treatments in various hands. This pattern of tables, summarizing published work, not only affords the relevant factual information; it provides an excellent stimulus to thought. Also, along with the clinical images, coloured 3-D diagrams (an art-form in themselves) allow the authors to avoid excessive detail in the text. As well as serving as a superb reference work for head and neck surgeons and clinical oncologists, Principles and Practice of Head and Neck Oncology will be of value to other participants in the multidisciplinary team—ENT, maxillofacial, plastic and endocrine surgeons, for instance. Trainees in these specialties should also read it, to keep abreast of this advancing clinical discipline.