Book Review

Textbook of Gynecology

N Engl J Med 1994; 330:1096April 14, 1994

Article

Textbook of Gynecology
Edited by Larry J. Copeland, with John F. Jarrell and James A. McGregor. 1251 pp., illustrated. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1993. $99. ISBN: 0-7216-3401-X

This is an extremely thorough encyclopedia of gynecology, covering everything from the embryology and anatomy of the female genital tract to the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant diseases of women. It has a special focus on pregnancy disorders, reproductive endocrinology, infertility, and infectious diseases and a lengthy section on cancers involving the female genital system. There are also substantial contributions on pelvic endometriosis, the gynecology of children and adolescents, urinary tract disorders, diseases of the breast, and treatment of the menopause. The sections on the psychosocial aspects of gynecology and ethical issues related to this specialty are thorough and clear. Surgical treatment as it pertains to technique is often not detailed here, but principles, indications, operative approaches, and alternatives are appropriately discussed. The chapters on preoperative and postoperative care are excellent.

The chapters in this book are clearly written and can serve as a learning resource not only for medical students but also for all physicians, whether house officers or experienced clinicians. An extensive bibliography at the end of each chapter serves as an index to references for those wishing to explore a specific clinical entity. Almost all the contributors are from North America, 20 percent of them from Canada. The authors are proved or promising academicians. To me, this is an exciting way to gather new and up-to-date information on a specific subject.

I congratulate all the contributors on one of the most complete and easy-to-read textbooks published to date in this field, and I recommend that it be added to the libraries of community hospitals and universities as well as to one's own library. I suggest, however, that in the next edition, the voluminous references be cited in the text by reference number only, rather than by author and year of publication, to increase readability. Again, it was a pleasure to review this textbook.

George Morley, M.D.
University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109