Comprehensive Gynecology

Comprehensive Gynecology is a new and opportune addition to the current selection of textbooks in the area of care of the female patient. The text is the in toto contribution of four distinguished chairmen of departments of obstetrics and gynecology located across the country, who dispense with the usual format of a multi-editor, multi-author compilation. Each is a leader in his own field of interest and brings to his chapters a uniqueness of style and focus of attention. The strengths of this particular textbook are numerous. The volume is divided into five major parts, including the basic sciences, a discussion of approaching the patient, general gynecology, and almost encyclopedic section devoted to gynecologic oncology, and, finally, an up-to-date treatment of the areas of endocrinology and infertility. Each of the forty chapters begins with a helpful section of key terms and definitions. The text which follows is, in general, well written and well indexed. Comprehensive Gynecology boasts over eight hundred illustrations, including numerous photographs, micrographs, and schematics describing methods of physical diagnosis and diagnostic procedures. At the end of each chapter, there is a chart of "key points" which serves as an excellent review of the material discussed. The text's references are complete, and many are as recent as the past year. Of particular interest are the chapters on methods of history and examination of the patient, as well as a chapter on significant signs and symptoms in different age groups that is particularly valuable. Criticisms of Comprehensive Gynecology are limited. One wonders why color photographs were not included in this textbook with its 1987 copyright. Although the text does, in one sense, reflect the thinking and practice of the four authors, it does not suffer thereby since the reader benefits from each individual's particular background and experience in one cohesive volume. This book is most appropriate for training house staff and the practicing gynecologist. Given its completeness, the medical student would certainly benefit from Comprehensive Gynecology with its teaching format; the cost of the text might be prohibitive, however, because a separate text in obstetrics would also be required for the typical Ob/Gyn clerkship. As a whole, the text fully reflects the progress in the field of gynecology in its attention to areas ranging from the basic sciences to pathophysiology, to psychosocial aspects of treating the female patient-and herein lie its strengths.