This is a book that needs a prompt review, I immediately thought. Anything entitled ‘Recent Advances’ runs the risk of rapidly becoming obsolescent, but this text should stand the test of time. Using the wonders of Google and Amazon, I discovered an eighth edition featuring, amongst others, our own David Moffat. I also discovered a very similar title, from the same industrious publishers (from 2014). That one was entitled Recent Advances in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (by Lalwani and Pfister), but labelled as being Volume 3. Confused? At 383 pages, this latter book requires more effort, and is possibly more clinically based, but similarly priced. I must get a copy!
The Sudhoff and Bhutta textbook is a handy-sized paperback that concentrates more on the basic science and laboratory research. The chapters ‘Optical diagnostics in head and neck cancer’ and ‘The medical treatment of vascular anomalies’ were personal favourites. Stem cells and positron emission tomography – computed tomography in head and neck cancer, I had thought almost mainstream topics, but the two relevant chapters proved me wrong. Superior canal dehiscence syndrome I never tire of, having spent years doubting its very existence. Balloon dilatation of the eustachian tube should work and put otologists out of business, but the jury is clearly still out until the evidence base improves. Hair cell regeneration and tissue hypoxia in chronic otitis media proved thought provoking topics. Middle-ear implants meet few sceptics nowadays, but vestibular implants clearly have some way to go before they become ‘Recent Advances’ clinically.
This is an inexpensive, well-illustrated book, with an interesting selection of topics. The chapter list reads like a programme for a meeting of our much-loved Otorhinolaryngological Research Society. The many authors have consistently addressed the challenge of the claims ‘Recent’ and ‘Advances’, and produced something of value to both the trainee and the ‘mature’ senior who seeks to stimulate the grey cells occasionally.
