BOOK REVIEW Karen T.

Pitman, MD, Section Editor

OTOLOGY, NEUROTOLOGY, AND LATERAL
SKULL BASE SURGERY
By Oliver F Adunka,Craig A Buchman, Thieme, New
York, NY, 2010, 468 pp, $149.95
This compendium of basic clinical otology and neurotology
should be a welcome addition to the library of every resident
and most practicing otolaryngologists. The intended audi-
ence is the new student interested in the eld, which pri-
marily means otolaryngology residents. The nal chapter of
the book is a step-by-step temporal bone dissection guide,
which is clearly intended for residents. However, this hand-
book also serves as a concise reference for general otolaryng-
ologists. Although otologists will not nd anything new, the
book fullls its purpose to give an overview of the eld
touching on the most important points.
The book is well organized into 7 chapters with multiple
subheadings and a 13-page index, which makes it easy to
nd any desired subject. Although the book has a number of
contributors, each section follows the same format with clear
subtitles and concise explanations. Not all the statistical
statements are referenced, but there is a short list of recom-
mended readings at the end of each section. The writing is
clear and concise, and unknowns as well as opposing views
are presented when relevant.
One of the best features of the book is the liberal use of
pictures, illustrations, scans, gures, and tables. For exam-
ple, in the section on otosclerosis, we see a typical audio-
gram, a temporal bone section of the pathology, 2 CT views
of cochlear otosclerosis, and an artists illustration of stapes
xation by a focus of disease at the ssula ante fenestrum.
This level of illustration is typical for every topic and greatly
enhances the text. Although many of the pictures are small,
they are clearly rendered, labeled, and in full color. The
impression is that the authors were trying to cram in as
much information as possible into a handbook and make it
understandable by using the best graphics to get home their
points.
The only weakness of the book comes because of compro-
mises on what could be included in a short concise reference
book. Of necessity, many topics are introduced but not exten-
sively covered and may leave even the new student wishing
for more. The lateral skull base surgery mentioned in the
title is given very few pages. The Fisch infratemporal
approach type A is very well explained and illustrated, but
for other approaches the reader is referred to the Recom-
mended Reading section. This may be appropriate for this
type of handbook, but given the title, one might expect more
elaboration. There are also a few minor problems with illus-
trations. The picture of a typical glomus tumor presented
twice in the book shows a bright blue rather than red mass
in the middle ear.
Overall, this book offers the best, most concise overview
of the eld of otology and neurotology of any current text-
book. It serves as an introduction to the eld, an excellent
study guide for review, and a well-illustrated reference of
the most pertinent otologic information for clinical practice.
THOMAS EBY, MD
Jackson, Mississippi
Head & Neck 00: 000000, 2011
Published online in Wiley Online Library
(wileyonlinelibrary.com).
DOI: 10.1002/hed.21932
V VC
2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
HEAD & NECKDOI 10.1002/hed Month 2011 1