I was delighted to receive a paediatric ENT text to review as it confirms how this subspecialty is continuing to expand. This 954-page textbook is made up of 61 chapters split into 6 sections. Each section starts with chapters on the relevant anatomy and physiology, before moving on to the disease processes.

The authors aim, in this second edition, to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based overview of paediatric ENT which will be a valuable asset to the paediatric clinician, for the next decade and beyond. However, as we know, medicine advances so fast that things are quickly outdated, which this text merely proves. At the time of writing, the use of propranolol for the treatment of subglottic haemangioma was only in its infancy and not recognised as a first-line treatment.

Having said that, the book does give a complete overview of every paediatric ENT pathology and diagnosis that I could throw at it. Each chapter has several useful ‘at a glance’ sections, helpful management flow charts, and tables listing differential diagnoses (useful for those preparing for exams).

The multiple contributing authors in the book did lead to some repetition, and I found that some chapters read better than others. Overall, I didn't feel the book was set out as well as it could have been, and it did not flow particularly well.

Whilst this text is illustrated, I was disappointed by the total lack of colour photographs and diagrams; I think this would have made a real difference, particularly when you're paying nearly €200 for it.

I'm more than happy (thanks Liam!) to keep this text on my shelf as a useful reference guide; however, it doesn't compare with the paediatric section of a very well known, three-volume ENT text from the UK (hardback brown cover, you know the one I mean).