Having recently acquired a post-CCT Rhinology and Skull Base fellowship, I am eternally grateful to the good folk at ENT & Audiology News for this most recent book review opportunity! The book should suit most higher-level ENT trainees through to consultant surgeons. It continues to follow a Thieme layout familiar with those that have purchased dissection manuals from the same publisher, so content is easy to thumb through if you’re looking to skim read.
The book is comprehensive to say the least, with case studies and technical tips galore to help inform your surgical repertoire. Anatomy makes for dry reading at the best of times, so it is of no surprise this book comes heavily illustrated with schematic diagrams, radiology, cadaveric dissections, and the occasional intraoperative photograph. Illustrations are annotated clearly. Important named structures often have their own sub-section and illustrations too, facilitating focused reading for precise skull base surgery. There are links to online videos which should work on most computers, but I wouldn’t waste your time on an NHS PC if my current 20-minute start-up time is anything to go by.
This book doesn’t limit itself to anatomy. It is neatly punctuated with surgical considerations and tabulated anatomical study results to highlight the salient points in amongst the minutiae of the areas being discussed. Admittedly, the surgical considerations appear to be something of an afterthought in a few places but this is primarily intended as an anatomical text rather than a truly surgical text. It is not by any means crafted as an operative manual or a clinical text, but some authors’ experiences are evident in the accompanying text which is a refreshing addition and a step towards making this more than just an anatomy textbook.
In summary, this book makes for a great one-stop reference framework for those embarking on a career in endoscopic rhinology and skull base surgery and will prove indispensable in years to come.
