Gastrointestinal Oncology - Hardcover

Douglas B. Evans is at both at University of Texas M.D Anderson Cancer Center.

During the past decade, striking advances have been made in our understanding of the pathobiology and molecular biology of gastrointestinal cancers and in their early detection and treatment. These advances are predicated on close collaboration among researchers, clinical scientists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists. In the spirit of this teamwork in research, a surgeon, a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and a pathologist joined forces to edit Gastrointestinal Oncology, a book that aims to integrate information about epidemiology, prevention, screening, general principles of treatment, new treatments, and palliative care. The book is divided into three sections, two of which are relatively short. One of them deals with epidemiology, prevention, and screening for gastrointestinal cancers and general principles of various treatments; the other concerns palliative care, nutritional support, management of pain, and complications of obstruction. The meat of the book is a long section on the management of neoplasms of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bile ducts, colorectum, and anus and of less common cancers of the gastrointestinal system, such as neuroendocrine tumors, lymphomas, and sarcomas. For each cancer site, there are detailed chapters on epidemiology, molecular biology, pathology, natural history, diagnostic and staging procedures, and management. The tables and illustrations are clear and well placed in the text; the color plates enhance the book. The authors of the various chapters are for the most part widely recognized leaders in the field, with an emphasis on experts at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The book is reasonably up to date, and the references are comprehensive. Although some chapters have "notes added in proof" with the most recent studies, others have no references after 1999. For this reason, the reader will find little mention of the role of minimally invasive surgical techniques, particularly laparoscopy, and no mention of the Dutch study of rectal cancer, which compared total mesorectal excision with a combination of preoperative radiation therapy and mesorectal excision. Nevertheless, Gastrointestinal Oncology is a comprehensive, well-written textbook that covers the spectrum of gastrointestinal cancer: care, prevention, and basic-science discoveries. Clinicians will find this book valuable. Patricia L. Roberts, M.D.
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