British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (2003) 41, 282

2003 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Book reviews

doi:10.1016/S0266-4356(03)00082-2,
available online at www.sciencedirect.com
Alveolar Distraction Osteogenesis
Edited by Ole T. Jensen, Quintessence Publishing Co. Inc.,
ISBN 0-86715-414-4, 82
This multi author book describes distraction osteogenesis as ap-
plied to the alveolar bone of the mandible and maxilla. As is
often the case in books where each chapter has different authors
there is a good deal of repetition and indeed some notable areas
of disagreement as well. For example, Ole Jensen et al. in Chap-
ter 9 considers distraction only likely to be used in the mandible
on occasions whereas the authors of Chapters 5 and 7 are more
enthusiastic about its role in the mandible.
There is a chapter on distraction devices (Chapter 4) but many
of the devices shown in clinical cases seem to be prototypes or
one off combinations of screws and orthodontic wire.
Some original research is presented for the first time in the
pages of this book and although lacking the rigour of a peer
review journal this does bring the book very up to date always a
problem with texts in such a rapidly developing area.
The place of distraction in maxillofacial surgical practice
remains to be seen with both the techniques and the devices
needing to be refined and this is the conclusion of the final
chapter.
This book will be valuable to those engaged in or about to
become involved in treating cases with distraction. It is copiously
illustrated with both clinical photographs and easy to understand
diagrams. A range of views are presented which give the reader
a good overview of the state of distraction in the alveolus. In
addition, there are some useful technical tips and the chapters
are mostly extensively referenced.
each specific condition and relates this to the clinical diagno-
sis and management. The book is richly illustrated with dia-
grams, clinical photographs and photomicrographs of very high
quality.
Despite the length of the text the book is refreshingly read-
able. The authors adopt a consistent logical approach to each
disease, describing clinical presentation, differential diagnosis,
diagnostic work-up, histopathology, treatment and prognosis.
The logical style is, in my view, one of the most attractive
aspects of this text.
The book does not aim to be a text on surgical technique but
nevertheless provides concise descriptions (and in many cases
excellent clinical photographs) of many of the more common
surgical procedures, such as Karapandzic lip reconstruction,
superficial parotidectomy and resection of oral tumours. A con-
cise overview of radiotherapy in the head and neck is provided
with descriptions of the associated problems and treatments,
including management of osteoradinecrosis.
In my opinion the authors are to be congratulated on this very
attractive and comprehensive work. The main disadvantage is,
of course, the price as 283 (or $399 if bought in the USA) for a
single-volume text is clearly not cheap. However, if funds do al-
low then I would certainly recommend this book for both trainees
and established specialists in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
S. G. Langton

M. E. Morton
doi:10.1016/S0266-4356(03)00065-2,
available online at www.sciencedirect.com

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: A Rationale for Diagnosis

and Treatment
By Robert E. Marx and Diane Stern, Quintessence Books, 2003,
Price 283.00, 908 pp, IBSN 0-86715-930-3

This beautifully presented 908 page book provides a compre-

hensive review of oral and maxillofacial disease. Set out in
20 chapters, it describes the pathological process underlying

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