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Book Reviews

Book Review

Comprehensive Gynecology Review,


4th Edition
By Frank W. Ling, Louis A. Vontver, Roger P. Smith, and Sharon T. Phelan
Mosby, St. Louis, 368 pages, $39.95, 2003

This fourth edition of Comprehensive Gynecology the use of danazol, an agent that has little use in practice,
Review is an appropriately sized softbound accompaniment to be excessive. Fallopian tube cancer, which is hardly a
to the text, Comprehensive Gynecology. The authors use a common entity, is assigned an entire chapter. Perhaps more
question-and-answer format to support information ade- attention could have been given to the work-up and treat-
quately covered in the text. The substance of this review ment of infertility. Sections on pediatric and adolescent
book covers essentially all aspects of clinical gynecology gynecology are well written.
from basic science and anatomy and physiology to com- Postmenopausal hormone replacement has received
plex challenges encountered by both generalists and intense critical review lately, and these updates should be
subspecialists. reflected more appropriately, especially with regard to car-
The questions are well written and the structure con- diovascular disease, venous thromboembolism, and malig-
forms to a design frequently encountered on formal exam- nancy. Although an entire discussion on minimally invasive
inations. Discussions are precise yet describe each topic surgical techniques may not be requisite, advances in the
with sufficient depth. This format generally appeals to a fields of general gynecology and oncology warrant atten-
wide target audience; however, because of its small size and tion. Most illustrations and figures are well placed and add
simplicity, it may not provide sufficient information for to the text; however, a number of pathology slides are too
residents and physicians preparing for national boards. small or obscure to interpret.
Nonetheless, the authors did meet their goal by compiling In general, this book serves a relevant purpose and
an affordable adjunct, which in and of itself would be ben- enhances the ability to obtain knowledge provided by the
eficial to medical students during clerkships and to midlevel text. In the preface, the authors clearly state their objectives,
practitioners who otherwise may not use such a book. which they have indeed met. Alone, this complement may
This edition is well organized and reads easily. Ques- not adequately provide information suitable for an advanced
tions occasionally refer to esoteric topics and may detract and comprehensive review. Rather, it offers a quick update
from the book’s educational potential. Two examples are for physicians and a fitting study guide for students.
the percentage of cervical deviations encountered with
severe endometriosis and “big-big” prolactin. We do not Jonathon M. Solnik, M.D.
believe these are clinically relevant issues in the context of Joseph S. Sanfilippo, M.D.
a review book. Furthermore, we found the discussions on Pittsburgh, PA

Reprinted from the JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF GYNECOLOGIC LAPAROSCOPISTS, November 2003, Vol. 10 No. 4
© 2003 The American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission from
the AAGL. This includes but is not limited to, the posting of electronic files on the Internet, transferring electronic files to other persons, distributing printed output, and photocopying.
To order multiple reprints of an individual article or request authorization to make photocopies, please contact the AAGL.

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