ORAL PRECANCER: DIAGNOSIS and PATHOLOGY of the HARD DENTAL Is Covered with Suitable Photographs

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ORAL PRECANCER: DIAGNOSIS AND PATHOLOGY OF THE HARD DENTAL is covered with suitable photographs. MANAGEMENT OF POTENTIALLY TISSUES Further chapters cover histology and MALIGNANT DISORDERS A. Schuurs carcinogenesis in detail but are inter- P. Thomson (ed) Wiley-Blackwell Wiley-Blackwell spersed with flow charts for simplified price £109.99; pp 456 price £82.95; pp 236 information. Chapter four delves fur- ISBN 9781405153652 ISBN 9781444335743 ther into each type of precancer with high quality pictures and includes an interesting section on premalignant conditions such as immunosuppression and lichen planus with good data for This is the first edition of a unique text- Peter Thomson and his team from New- malignant transformation. book dedicated solely to pathologies castle have worked together to create Chapter five addresses the diffi- relating to the dental hard tissues. A this textbook based on the complex culty of observing these asymptomatic total of 456 pages are filled with high disorder of oral precancer. With over lesions by using simple examination quality radiographs and photographs 30 years of experience Peter Thomson and diagnostic aids including dye. that allow the reader to easily visualise has a vast amount of knowledge on this Again, the pathological aspect is the conditions discussed. The book is subject, which shows throughout this addressed in a very complex manner heavily evidence-based with thousands well presented text. The book aims to that may be too deep for some. Man- of references made to an array of highly propose a rational basis for an inter- agement and malignant transforma- regarded scientific journals. ventional clinical management proto- tion of the lesions are possibly the The book is divided into four sections. col for oral precancer using not only best chapters, as they show how sur- Section one, ‘Developmental anomalies’, past experience but also the current gical techniques are performed, and covers anomalies in tooth number, mor- literature, which the authors admit is include handy summary boxes and a phology and size, and developmental rather misleading. The intended audi- mnemonic for revision purposes. anomalies of enamel and dentine. ence is not clearly outlined but the The latter part of the book consists of Section two, ‘Anomalies of eruption’, detail of the text implies that it is for research from the authors themselves revises tooth eruption on a microbiologi- specialists or those about to embark on and 11 case studies are presented, cal level and summarises the commonly the oral and maxillofacial specialist which demonstrate the rationale and occurring variations in eruption of the career pathway. difficulties in decision making for deciduous and permanent dentition. This This hard-backed book contains a precancer. chapter then goes on to discuss causes of multitude of clinically relevant photo- In conclusion, this book is compre- abnormal eruption of the dentition and graphs across 12 chapters. Every chap- hensive in its discussion and imaging of the appropriate management of these con- ter finishes with a comprehensive list oral precancer. The authors explain the ditions. of references should the reader wish to disease process excellently with exem- Section three, ‘Post-eruptive hard tissue expand their knowledge further. plary photographs. They also allow the physiological changes and pathological The introduction consists of an expla- reader to go further into the research if conditions’, is the most extensive section nation of dysplasia and looks briefly they so wish – a great tactic to avoid the encompassing common dental patholo- into leukoplakia, erythroplakia, preven- book becoming too wordy, which occurs gies and their management including tion and treatments – these are recur- a little in the pathology sections. I would caries, erosion, tooth resorption, common ring themes throughout the book. The highly recommend the book for those pathologies of the ageing dentition and terminology section is excellent for wishing to expand their knowledge on finally, dental trauma and tooth discol- clearing up the often muddy area of oral malignancy at a specialist trainee ouration. Aetiology and management of precancerous titles in an easy to under- or higher level. these conditions are discussed at length. stand manner. Later, applied anatomy C. Steel Particularly impressive is the text refer-

BRITISH DENTAL JOURNAL VOLUME 215 NO. 7 OCT 12 2013 371