Acta Dermatovenerol Croat
2011;19(4):279 BOOK REVIEW
Fitzpatrick JE, Morelli JG, editors.
Dermatology Secrets Plus
Fourth Edition. Elsevier Mosby 2011;
one volume; pages 496, chapters 69.
ISBN 978-0-323-07154-3
The fourth edition of Dermatology Secrets Plus
has been received with high interest among derma-
tologists. This valuable book is based on the Socratic
method of teaching, which involves asking and an-
swering questions to stimulate critical thinking. It
is the goal of this textbook to simulate the kinds of
questions that might be used on dermatology pa-
tients rounds as the senior attending physician applies
the Socratic method of teaching to medical students
and residents. The book begins with 100 secrets that
summarize the concepts, principles and most salient
issues of diagnosis and therapy in dermatology. Skim
the Top 100 Secrets chapter and Key Point Boxes of-
fer fast overview of the secrets, which dermatologists
must know for success on the boards and in practice.
The first part includes chapters with questions and
answers about the structure and function of the skin,
morphology of primary and secondary skin lesions,
and diagnostic techniques. For example, the question
is what is apocopation. The answer is that apocopa-
tion is that process by which melanocytes transfer me-
lanosomes to keratinocytes. In this process, the tips of
the melanocytic dendritic processes are phagocytized
by keratinocytes. Answers to most questions are quite
long, depending on the topic complexity.
The part of the book about inherited disorders
includes chapters with questions and answers about
disorders of keratinization, neurocutaneous disorders
and mechanobullous disorders. In the third part are
questions and answers about inflammatory skin dis-
orders, i.e. papulosquamous skin eruptions, dermatitis
(eczema), contact dermatitis, vesiculobullous disor-
ACTA DERMATOVENEROLOGICA CROATICA
ders, pustular eruptions, lichenoid eruptions, granulo-
matous diseases of the skin, drug eruptions, vasculitis,
deposition disorders, photosensitive dermatitis, disor-
ders of pigmentation, panniculitis, alopecia, acne and
acneiform eruptions, autoimmune connective tissues
diseases, urticaria and angioedema. The fourth part
contains chapters with questions and answers about
infections and infestations, and the fifth part about
cutaneous manifestations of internal diseases. In the
sixth and seven parts there are questions and answers
about benign and malignant tumors of the skin, while
the eighth part contains chapters about treatment of
skin disorders, i.e. sunscreens, topical steroids, funda-
mentals of cutaneous surgery, cryosurgery, Mohs sur-
gery, lasers, photomedicine and retinoids.
Special chapters are dedicated to neonatal infec-
tions, pediatric dermatology, geriatric dermatology,
dermatoses in pregnancy, disorders of female genita-
lia, and cultural dermatology. The last chapters deal
with emergencies and miscellaneous problems such
as approaching a pruritic patient, occupational derma-
tology, psychocutaneous diseases and nail disorders.
The benefit from the proven Secrets format is that
it is concise, easy to read, and highly effective. All
chapters are illustrated with more than 500 excellent
photographs.
In this edition, there are 8 new tables and more than
90 new figures. Also, there are new references in all chap-
ters and Web Resources added to the bibliography.
This valuable book will certainly find its place in
every dermatology library.
Aida Pašić, MD PhD
279