Laryngeal Manifestations of Systemic Diseases is a unique reference manual which will cater to a wide potential audience. It would represent a good text for laryngologists coming across patients with known comorbidities or as new diagnoses of underlying pathologies, but would serve equally well as an encyclopaedia for general practitioners or internal medical specialists as to whether particular diseases are known to cause laryngeal symptoms.
No prior knowledge of the larynx is assumed, as the first chapter involves a clinically focused look at laryngeal anatomy and physiology, complete with helpful and clear diagrams. Each chapter then proceeds in standalone review format of each body system with its relevance to the larynx. The book’s dual audience focus is evident in chapters such as chapter 4: Common Medical Diagnoses and Treatments in Patients with Voice Disorders, which provides a basic overview of the common types of diagnoses seen in a specialist voice clinic and would be helpful for referring medical clinicians. Of particular interest to laryngologists will be the up-to-date management of the commonly involved gastrointestinal, respiratory tract and nervous system systems, though there is also comprehensive cover of other relevant areas of medicine such as autoimmune, endocrine and psychological disorders. The book concludes with a highly interesting section on how a variety of medications can affect the voice, again highly relevant for medics and surgeons alike who care for increasingly elderly populations with a high level of polypharmacy.
The book is well-written in clear and interesting language with useful section subheadings. There is a wide variety of relevant and high-quality clinical photographs and diagrams, particularly in the respiratory chapter, though some sections could benefit from including more (especially the chapters on the ageing larynx and autoimmune conditions).
It is good value for money and would be a great addition to a general ENT as a good starting place for trainees to plan clinical reviews or provide background for writing up case series.
