J. Paediatr. Child Health

(2003)

39

, 394–397

Book Reviews

IMAGING OF THE CERVICAL SPINE IN CHILDREN, byLE Swischuk; 2002. New York: Springer. pp. ix + 141;includes index. Illustrated. Price: US$99.00.

Interpretation of the cervical spine radiography in childhood isone of the more challenging areas in paediatric radiology inwhich Dr Swischuk has had a long-standing interest. We aretherefore fortunate that he has given us the benefit of his vastexperience in producing a small monograph, which will fill animportant gap.

The book is divided into six chapters, all of which are easyto read in conjunction with plentiful imaging examples whichinclude plain radiographs, computed tomography (CT) andmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The key to interpretation of cervical spine radiographs is agood understanding of developmental anatomy, which is wellcovered in chapter 1. This leads into an excellent chapter onnormal variations, which are numerous and often not wellunderstood. Physiologic hypermobility of the cervical spine inchildhood, for example, produces a variety of normal variationsand there are many instructive examples of the various traps ininterpretation.

Chapter 3 deals with the complex area of congenital anoma-lies and chapter 4 covers anomalies and normal variations ofthe dens. This is a particularly difficult area but a comprehen-sive coverage is provided.

Interpretation of cervical spine trauma radiographs in child-hood often cause anxiety amongst both clinicians and radiolo-gists. There is excellent coverage of the mechanisms of injurywith radiological correlation. Plain film signs of cervical spineinstability are discussed and the importance of recognizing thesigns of instability stressed. There are plain film, CT and MRIexamples in the various types of flexion force injuries, whichare the most common. Hyperextension, lateral flexion, axialload and rotational injuries are discussed in detail. The crucialpoints are highlighted in bold type.

Chapter 6 deals with miscellaneous cervical spine problemsincluding infection and neoplastic disease. There is a shortsection discussing the imaging of atlanto-occipital instabilityand its association with trisomy 21.

This book is essential reading for all paediatric radiolo-gists, residents, orthopaedic surgeons and emergency carephysicians. It is a well balanced, erudite disposition with goodimaging illustrations and excellent references. A practicalapproach to imaging of the cervical spine is stressed withclear ‘take-home’ messages. The book is easy to read andwould be an excellent reference text in all paediatric radiol-ogy and emergency departments.

LL Morris

Department of Paediatric ImagingWomen’s and Children’s Hospital North Adelaide, South Australia

Australia

THE DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH TO SYMPTOMS ANDSIGNS IN PEDIATRICS, 2nd edition, by PS Bellet; 2002.Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. pp. 576;includes index. Price: not provided.

This book reads like a personal set of notes on paediatricmedical diagnosis. Each chapter deals with one symptom (e.g.

limp) or sign (e.g. red eye). The notes are presented in sections.First, there is a list of causes in conventional groupings, suchas infection, metabolic, trauma, etc. Then, under the headingClinical Features and Diagnosis, each cause in the list isdiscussed in terms of typical features and diagnostic tests.Finally, there is a section called Diagnostic Approach, in whichimportant features of the history or physical examination areraised as suggestive of particular causes of the presentation, toguide investigation. There is a list of references at the end ofeach chapter. There is no consideration of management.

While the lists are comprehensive and the discussion of thepossible diagnoses reasonable, the book does not always give asense of perspective regarding what is common and what israre. For example, under ‘cough’ there is more about bothhistoplasmosis and immotile cilia syndrome than there is aboutpertussis. Rather than providing an algorithmic approach, basedon picking off key symptoms or signs indicative of seriouscauses, the Diagnostic Approach section involves further dis-cussion of key aspects of particular diagnoses and tests thatmight be helpful. The reader does not gain a strong idea as tothe rational use of laboratory or imaging investigations.

This book provides fairly well organized reminders of lesscommon causes of a wide range of presentations. It might be auseful resource when faced with an unusual case in which firstline investigations have not provided the answer.

D Efron

Centre for Community Child HealthRoyal Children’s Hospital

Parkville, VictoriaAustralia

PEDIATRIC ENT RADIOLOGY, by SJ King andAE Boothroyd; 2002. New York: Springer-Verlag. pp. x + 362;includes index. Illustrated. Price: US$149.00.

This book has been written with the premise that childrenwith diseases of the ears, nose or throat may come under thecare of a range of health care professionals. These includepaediatricians, ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons, accidentand emergency personnel, craniofacial surgeons and dentists.

True to title, the book is divided into sections on the ears,nose and throat and there is a total of 25 chapters, each dealingwith particular problems within the broader areas. There is asubject index but at the beginning of each chapter there isa sub-index which makes the book very user friendly whenquick reference is required.

The major conditions are well covered and reference is madeto less common conditions. Descriptions are necessarily briefbut are concise and each section is well referenced. The use ofall imaging modalities is discussed from plain films to the moresophisticated computed tomography and magnetic resonanceimaging. Importantly, the advantages and disadvantages ofthe various available imaging modalities are discussed withreference to particular clinical situations. Practical problems arealso discussed, for example, use of sedation or the need foranaesthesia.

The text is very easy to read, the quality of the reproducedimages is excellent and the descriptive diagrams, where pro-vided, are very helpful. My only criticism of the book is that

Book Reviews 395

most of the images have no annotation but only a description.Those readers not familiar with the anatomy of the region maystruggle a little. There is only one minor printing error that Inoted (on p. 245).

In summary, the book is very easy to read and understand.It would be a very useful quick reference source for radiologistsand ENT surgeons and also for paediatricians who deal withproblems of the ears, nose and throat as part of their dailypractice. Needless to say, registrars in training would find thislittle book very useful.

T Smith

Department of Paediatric ImagingWomen’s and Children’s Hospital

North Adelaide, South AustraliaAustralia

COMMUNITY PAEDIATRICS, 3rd edition, edited byL Polnay; 2002. London: Churchill Livingstone. pp. xv + 617;includes index. Price: not provided.

With the third edition of Community Paediatrics, the speciality‘community paediatrics’ has finally come into its own, at leastin the United Kingdom (UK). The sheer size of the text and thediversity and range of topics covered, reflects the complex andchallenging field that community paediatrics has become. Thetextbook is clearly written for practitioners in the UK andservice descriptions are very UK specific. However, the generalprinciples of community paediatric practice are relevant to allchild health practitioners working in the western world. Asignificant advance in this edition of the textbook and indeedfor any current textbook on community paediatrics, is theimportance given to the social sciences, psychology and healtheconomics.

The first chapter on the historical origins of communitypaediatrics in the UK sets the scene for this rapidly changingand evolving speciality. The section on child public health byMartin Allaby is excellent and succinctly lists core aspects ofpublic health that are relevant to the community paediatrician;while subtly pushing a broad, socially oriented approach topublic health. The chapter on ‘psychological needs of thecommunity paediatrician’ acknowledges how poor doctors areat addressing their own psychological needs. While this sectionseems targeted at community paediatricians working in theclinical realm, there are good tips on general ‘strategies forlooking after ourselves’. In the chapter on Social Science,Pauline Harris challenges us to think differently about com-munities, families, parenthood, and understand the realmsof power and influence. The chapter on health economics iseminently readable and particularly welcome to those of uswho automatically switch off at the very mention of economics.Also welcome is Polnay’s personal guide to management,based on ‘25 years’ experience as a tightrope walker withvertigo – mainly terrifying, but occasionally exciting!’

In Community Paediatrics, Professor Polnay has tried toavoid the duplication of accounts of clinical paediatrics thatmay be found in other standard textbooks. Nevertheless,several sections in the book have fairly detailed and at timesunnecessary accounts of paediatric clinical diagnosis andmanagement. The section on development (Polnay and Marder)is comprehensive and thorough, and reflects the fact that manycommunity paediatricians work clinically in child developmentor child disability. The adjoining section on clinical genetics

is huge in scope and again thorough, principally targeted atcommunity paediatricians working in the field of disability.The chapter on growth (Didcock and Johnston) is likewiseclinically focussed, while touching on the population healthimplications of obesity. The chapter on nutrition is wellbalanced, with good commonsense advice for paediatriciansworking in a culturally diverse society.

The chapters on health services for children, primary care,community nursing, education and social services, are up-to-date descriptions of services for children as they operate in theUK. While they make interesting reading, their relevance tothe Australian setting is limited. For those interested in healthservices development however, they are essential reading. Thechapter on child health surveillance, interestingly appears inthe latter half of the book, and reflects the move away frompopulation screening to health promotion and partnership withparents. The chapters on unintentional injuries and healthinequalities firmly place child health in the wider context ofcommunity, society and class.

I welcome the third edition of Community Paediatrics asessential reading, not just for community paediatricians andcommunity paediatric trainees, but for all those interested inchild health. The book manages the difficult tightrope ofpaying adequate attention to public health, social sciences,clinical paediatrics and health services management.

S Raman

Western Sydney Area Health ServiceCumberland Centre

North Parramatta, New South WalesAustralia

PEDIATRIC CLINICAL SKILLS, 3rd edition, by RB Gold-bloom; 2002. Philadelphia: Saunders (available from ElsevierAustralia, http//:wwwelsevier.com.au). pp. xv + 373; includesindex. Illustrated. Price: AU$146.34.

The 3rd edition of Pediatric Clinical Skills is a high qualityproduction. While aimed mainly at the medical student, post-graduates can certainly find some important pearls. The pre-vious editions have been popular and this volume adds extrachapters addressing cultural issues in caring for children andfamilies, screening children prior to sports participation and incaring for children with chronic disorders. After a generalintroduction to approaching the medical interview, the booktakes a sensible and comprehensive systems approach to clini-cal skills. There are good quality photographs and diagramsthat aid comprehension. The text is easily followed and keypoints are highlighted. Case studies and selected pathologicalstates also assist the reader in understanding the why and howof clinical assessment.

Personally, I would have liked more on dealing with adoles-cents. However, overall there is a very good coverage of theimportant clinical skills required for assessing children andfamilies. I strongly recommend this book as a core reference forundergraduate medical curricula.

M Marks

Department of PaediatricsRoyal Children’s Hospital

Parkville, VictoriaAustralia

396 Book Reviews

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OAKLAND HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY HANDBOOK, by C Hastings; 2002. St Louis:Mosby (available from Elsevier Australia, http://www.elsevier.com.au). pp. xii + 268; includes index. Price: AU$86.68.

This book is designed for use by heamatology and oncologyresidents and fellows but is useful for all staff involved inthe care of these patients. It arose from the guidelines of theHematology/Oncology Unit at the Children’s Hospital, Oak-land, and covers the important aspects of diagnosis and care forthe majority of patients seen in such a unit.

The book is divided into sections for haematology andoncology, followed by a detailed formulary of chemothera-peutic agents, anti-infective agents and other drugs used inpaediatric haematology/oncology. It is wonderfully writtenwith a mixture of easily interpreted text and tables and flowdiagrams.

The haematology section discusses the investigation andtreatment of the cytopenias (including transfusion therapy),haemoglobinopathies and the bleeding and thrombotic dis-orders. While the latest molecular and biologic informationis presented, the emphasis remains practical and deals withcommon problems likely to be seen in the clinic or on the ward.

The oncology section concentrates on the diagnosis ofpaediatric malignancies and on common supportive care issuessuch as the management of fever and neutropenia and anti-emesis as well as acute oncologic emergencies such as tumourlysis syndrome. There is a short chapter on each of the commonmalignancies, outlining therapeutic principles while avoidingspecific regimens. Sarcomas and bone tumours are not dis-cussed but this does not distract from the important balance ofinformation presented.

The information in this handbook is accurate, up to date andsuccinct and the formulary is extensive and useful. This bookwould be most useful to medical and nursing staff training inpaediatric haematology-oncology but will be a handy resourcefor the consultant staff as well.

CH Cole

Paediatric & Adolescent Haematology & OncologyPrincess Margaret Hospital for Children

Subiaco, Western AustraliaAustralia

GELLIS & KAGAN’S CURRENT PEDIATRIC THERAPY,17th edition, by FD Burg, JR Ingelfinger, RA Polin andAA Gershon; 2002. Philadelphia: Saunders (Available fromElsevier Australia, http://www.elsevier.com.au). pp. xi + 1231;includes index. Price: AU$210.84.This book is the 17th edition from a book that many of us willremember from our medical student days; this edition continueswith distinguished editors and a wide range of authors. It iswell laid out and the chapters are organized in a coherentand sensible manner. It covers a wide range of paediatrics andincludes not just hospital based paediatrics but extensive chap-ters on community paediatrics, children and young people’smental health and general issues such as nutrition, fluid andelectrolyte balance. As in any such book, some issues such asfamilial dysautonomia run to three or four pages and otherissues such tuberous sclerosis on the following page have onlyone or two pages.

The book was reviewed by dipping into it through a varietyof chapters including organic and non-organic issues. Theinformation provided is concise, clearly written and readable.

There is a good use of algorithms, which will help students andjunior doctors in looking at management decisions and prob-ably provide useful schemes for not so young doctors as well.

This textbook takes a slightly different view from thestandard paediatric texts. It provides in most areas a usefulreview of disease processes with a good summary of keyissues. However, it then focuses upon treatment, an area wherethe standard texts are less strong. Treatments are of coursecouched in terms of the American scene and when dealing withserum bilirubin and jaundice the authors use SI units, but bloodglucose measurements are given in milligrams per decilitre.It would have been good to see an acknowledgement of theinternational community in the use of SI units here as well.

A major issue is where this textbook fits in. It would be veryuseful on wards, in emergency departments and in student andregistrar libraries for general background reading and quickupdates on a subject. Its greater emphasis on treatment makes ita useful augmentation to the standard textbooks and its use ofdosages gives it clinical relevance and feel. The trouble withany textbook is that within critical areas it will be outdated bythe time it is published. Such a textbook can inform assessment,discussion and treatment of patients but cannot replace theclinical input of either a general paediatrician or the use byregistrars and general paediatricians of sub specialists to directmanagement in unusual and rare situations.

In summary, this book is well written and emphasisestreatment, but with appropriate brevity it reviews a wide rangeof paediatric issues. Its emphasis on treatment means that it hasa very real place on wards, emergency departments and lib-raries, probably as the third major paediatric text. As with anytext, it will date quickly and its costs need to be amortised overtwo to three years. It will probably last for many more yearsbefore being totally discarded. I would commend this book tothe expanding rural teaching centres and to all small and largepaediatric units. I believe it is a standard reference text.

N Stewart

Port Augusta HospitalPort Augusta, South Australia

Australia

HARRIETT LANE HANDBOOK BY JOHNS HOPKINSHOSPITAL, 16th edition, edited by VL Gunn and C Nechyba;2002. Philadelphia: Mosby (Available from Elsevier Australia,http://www.elsevier.com.au). pp. xiv + 1036; includes index.Illustrated. Price: AU$94.13.

The Harriet Lane Handbook is now 52 years old; the 16thedition continues a tradition of the house staff of Johns HopkinsHospital, producing a high quality guide used for bedsideconsultation for diagnosis, investigation and therapeutics inpaediatric practice. The chapters have a consistent look and feeland are easy to navigate. The indexing is comprehensive andextensive (83 pages) as is appropriate for the way this type ofbook is used.

New for this edition are lists of URLs at the start of mostchapters to allow further research. Unfortunately these are notannotated and I suspect this will limit how many will actuallybe used. Also new is a dermatology chapter with 32 goodquality colour plates. Omitted from this edition are chaptersdevoted to surgery and psychiatry. It is a pity to marginalise,and perhaps, devalue these as part of routine paediatricpractice.

Book Reviews 397

The book is divided into four parts. The first, Acute Care,covers the most important life-threatening childhood con-ditions. The poisoning section in particular gives good generaladvice and specific advice about a range of common com-pounds. However, it is disappointing to see some advice notreflecting evidenced based practice (e.g. cool mist and anti-pyretics are suggested for mild croup).

The second part of the book is devoted to Diagnostic andTherapeutic Information. A system-based approach is used tocover the background to dealing with presenting problems anddisorders. The third and shortest part is entitled Referenceand comprises laboratory values, and a terrific and conciseguide to biostatistics and evidenced-based medicine principles.

The fourth part is the Formulary (376 pages). While thedrug monographs are succinct and the information good,more comprehensive and more easily up-dateable informationis available on-line. In addition, many of the drugs or theirpreparations are not available to practitioners outside NorthAmerica.

Questions that the reader of this journal will ask are how thisbook compares to local handbooks and should I spend theAU$94 that this book costs. Most handbooks produced inAustralia aim to assist in the initial and then some of thesubsequent management of children with common and seriousdisorders. If price is a factor, then cheaper guides are available.Conversely, The Harriet Lane Handbook is a a small textbookwith management tips thrown in. It certainly has considerablestrengths with a plethora of reference values, charts, radio-graphs, diagrams. The local handbooks will more likely reflectlocal medical culture and advice regarding drugs availablelocally. Perhaps this book best serves as a supplement to a localhandbook for those practising in the South Pacific region.

M Marks

Department of PaediatricsRoyal Children’s Hospital

Parkville, VictoriaAustralia

Corrigendum

The publisher wishes to draw attention to an error in the following article:

Zhao T, Wang A, Chen Y, Xiao M, Duo L, Liu G, Lau Y, Karlberg J. Prevalence of childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczemain Urumqi and Beijing.

J. Paediatr. Child Health

2000;

36

: 128–33.

The second author’s initial is incorrect. The citation should be as follows:

Zhao T, Wang HJ, Chen Y, Xiao M, Duo L, Liu G, Lau Y, Karlberg J. Prevalence of childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczemain Urumqi and Beijing.

J. Paediatr. Child Health

2000;

36

: 128–33.

The publisher apologises for this error and for any inconvenience that it might have caused.