Book Review

Salivary Gland Disorders

N Engl J Med 2008; 358:1873April 24, 2008

Article

Salivary Gland Disorders
Edited by Eugene N. Myers and Robert L. Ferris. 517 pp., illustrated. Berlin, Springer, 2007. $209. ISBN: 978-3-540-47070-0

Salivary glands seem to be an enigma to most practitioners despite the ease of examination and the frequency of salivary gland disorders. Patients most commonly seek medical attention when the parotid or submandibular glands become enlarged or painful. There is often confusion about whether the swelling is in a lymph node or a salivary gland. Rarely is a differential diagnosis entertained, but a referral to an otolaryngologist will often follow, with the hope that appropriate care will be provided. Care is not always appropriate, however, since even these specialists consider common entities before the more unusual inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. Even in a busy head-and-neck practice, such conditions are infrequent. The literature to date that can assist in the care of patients with these less common conditions can most often be found in general otolaryngology texts or journals and not in a single source. This book, edited by Eugene Myers and Robert Ferris, fills the void.

Salivary Gland Disorders spans the entire array of conditions that can affect salivary tissues. The contributors are international experts. Each chapter begins with a list headed “Core Features” that introduces the highlights of the chapter. “Take Home Messages” at the end of each chapter provide summaries of the critical points. Many chapters also include a list called “Complications to Avoid,” an additional summary of potential risks. There are numerous illustrations in color, as well as many high-quality radiographs. It is apparent that references were not limited, and a number of chapters are extensively annotated, such as chapter 3, “Pathology of Salivary Gland Disease,” which includes 630 citations.

The book is not divided into topics, but instead flows from one subject to another. The early chapters cover traditional subjects such as anatomy, imaging, and pathology. In later chapters, diseases — both benign and malignant — are discussed. Discussion of neoplastic disorders takes up nearly half the book, and this seems to reflect both the complexity of the treatment for these disorders and the main interests of the editors. These chapters are detailed in text and illustrations, making them valuable for head and neck oncologists.

The important message the practitioner should take from this book is that salivary gland conditions are varied, and the treatment can require the expertise of a number of specialists. Salivary Gland Disorders will be most valuable to these specialists, and particularly to otolaryngologists, who will definitely benefit from the thorough exposition. This well-written book serves as a single source for the current medical knowledge in this area.

Marvin P. Fried, M.D.
Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10467
mfried@montefiore.org