Shear's Cysts of the Oral and Maxillofacial Regions, Fifth editionby Paul M.Speight, John Wiley & Sons, 2022.

Abstract

It was a great privilege for me to be able to read and be invited to comment on this new edition of “Cyst of the oral and maxillofacial regions”, a book that over the years, from my beginnings as a dental student and later as an oral pathologist, has always been present in my academic and work life. The oral and maxillofacial region is the site of formation of various lesions, some of which are unique and exclusive to this region; the cysts described in this book are a clear example of this. For many years the book “Cyst of the oral and maxillofacial regions” by Prof. Mervyn Shear has been dedicated to deepening the knowledge of these lesions. The first edition of this book was published in 1976 and, from that year on, all the new knowledge that was emerging about cysts of the oral and maxillofacial region became part of the subsequent editions in 1983, 1992, and 2007, until reaching this fifth edition written entirely by Prof. Paul M. Speight. Thus, throughout the years this book has consolidated its reputation as a classic, a basic text and a mandatory reference within the area of oral pathology and medicine. The function of a textbook is to collect all the relevant information on a specific topic and update the new knowledge that exists on the specific field of study. This fifth edition emphasizes the careful selection of recent investigations that contribute new information to the knowledge of the pathogenesis of these lesions, as well as showing clinical and diagnostic relevance. The book consists of 18 chapters (367 pages) covering in a complete, detailed, and clear way the current knowledge about all the cysts of the oral and maxillofacial region. Each chapter covers clinical features, radiological features, pathogenesis, histopathology, and treatment, as well as some specific concepts about each lesion, making special reference to differential diagnoses. The text is supported by clinical and histological images (photomicrophotography), as well as radiographic images of all the lesions studied. For this, the editor had the collaboration of some of the most outstanding colleagues in the area of pathology and oral medicine from various regions. of the world, achieving a book that is also very attractive visually. Before delving into an individual description of each cyst by specific chapter, the book reviews in the first two chapters the classification of cysts in the oral and maxillofacial region, proposes a simple classification that can be shared and understood by both clinicians and pathologists, then describes considerations on cysts in general that are very useful for the diagnosis of each type of cyst. The odontogenic keratocyst is without a doubt the cyst that has attracted the most interest and debate in recent years, especially in terms of its terminology and the possible neoplastic nature of the lesion. This edition dedicates its largest chapter to this cyst (Chapter 7), where information is added throughout 56 pages, making it the most in-depth and comprehensive review and discussion to be found in the current literature on this controversial lesion. Personally, this was the chapter I enjoyed the most in the book. The progress that molecular pathology has had in recent decades is reflected in this new edition, providing information on the molecular mechanisms of some of these lesions, emphasizing studies of immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and genetics that provide useful information for understanding the pathogenesis and biological behavior of cysts in the oral and maxillofacial region. All information is presented in a clear and accessible manner for everyone involved in oral medicine and pathology, from a dental student to a general practitioner, maxillofacial surgeon, head and neck surgeon, general pathologist, or specialist. in pathology and oral medicine. The information is presented in a very accessible and easy to consult manner, the book contains very clear diagrams and tables that simplify the understanding of the information, and the use presence in each chapter of boxes that summarize and highlight the most relevant information is a very useful feature. All of this means that this book is currently considered the gold standard for those who want to delve into the knowledge of cysts in the oral and maxillofacial region, a book that should always be present in the library of those of us dedicated to diagnosis., treatment or research in the field of pathology and oral medicine.