Color Atlas of Diagnostic Endoscopy in Otorhinolaryngology.

by Eiji Yanagisawa, MD. 208 pages, 660 photos (659 in full color). First published in 1996 by Igaku-Shoin, New York City, this book is now available from Lippincott-Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia: [phone]. ISBN: 0896403165.

Price: $99.00. [Editor's note: It is not out of print.]

As endoscopic surgery becomes more widely practiced by otolaryngologists, and with serious complications always a concern, the need for a thorough review of the endoscopic appearance of the internal structure of the nasal chambers, nasopharynx, larynx, and ears is evident. Eiji Yanagisawa, MD, has satisfied this need by providing the reader with an expertly guided tour of these recesses, in both their normal and abnormal conditions.

The volume opens with an historical account of endoscopic photography, wherein Yanagisawa describes the techniques employed during the late 19th century and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each. Modern equipment is shown in detailed photographs, which are accompanied by views of anatomic structures obtained with telescopes, fiberscopes, and video cameras. These images were selected from more than 10,000 videographic records that Yanagisawa has accumulated during 20 years of documenting normal and abnormal structures in the upper airways.

Anatomy is shown in remarkable detail, and the color photographs provide the reader with an accurate picture of numerous structures and substances--for example, fluid in a maxillary sinus cyst; pus being suctioned during a frontal sinusotomy; the natural ostia of the sphenoid and maxillary sinuses; the optic nerve and internal carotid canals in the sphenoid sinus; the tympanic membrane during various types of infection or tubal obstruction; and many others commonly encountered in practice. These photographs are accompanied by concise comments on the significance of each structure or abnormality.

Special endoscopic techniques--such as stroboscopic videolaryngoscopy, velolaryngeal endoscopy, rigid and contact laryngeal endoscopy, and middle ear endoscopy--are clearly illustrated.

An ample index directs the reader to specific structures and their abnormalities. The bibliography identifies key publications in endoscopic photography and adds a useful dimension to the text.

This atlas is an important addition to our understanding of endoscopic diagnosis, and it should occupy a prominent place in every practitioner's library.