JAAD ONLINE: BOOK REVIEW
Pocket tutor dermatology
Emma Craythorne and Marie-Louise Daly, 2015,
London, JP Medical Publishers. 288 pages. $21.00.
ISBN: 978-1-907-81678-9.
The Pocket Tutor series by JP Medical Publishers is
aimed at medical students and residents with the
objective of providing concise, practical information
in an affordable, ‘‘on the go,’’ easily readable text.
The authors of Pocket Tutor Dermatology, Drs
Craythorne and Daly, succeed in this goal. It is an
organized, straightforward book that can be used as a
foundational read for a clerkship or a quick reference
pocket guide. In a succinct text, Pocket Tutor
Dermatology covers a breadth of topics ranging
from basic science to clinical treatment.
The book is divided into 18 chapters. The first 3
are an overview of the anatomy, terminology,
studies, and therapeutics used in dermatology.
They provide a well laid out foundation for new-
comers to the specialty. The fourth chapter provides
7 diagnostic flowcharts for common signs in derma-
tology and serves as a basis for the remaining clinical
chapters. The book is arranged by disease type and
also includes sections on pediatric dermatology,
psychodermatology, dermatologic emergencies,
and procedural dermatology. Clinical scenarios are
J AM ACAD DERMATOL
provided at the beginning of each chapter to help
students understand common presenting problems.
A short overview of each diagnosis is provided,
followed by its main clinical features and common
treatment options. Pocket Tutor Dermatology pro-
vides numerous clinical photographs, diagrams, and
diagnostic flow charts throughout the topics. This
significantly adds to the text as a practical resource
and learning tool. ‘‘Clinical Insight’’ boxes provide
useful, applicable advice for the diagnosis and
management of patients.
It is not intended to be an all-inclusive text, and
the book is extremely brief and likely too simplistic of
a discussion for those outside of its target audience.
However, Pocket Tutor Dermatology is a compen-
dious and systematic text that will benefit medical
students and residents rotating in the field of derma-
tology. The representative images, clinical insights,
and flow charts will aid practicing primary care
providers who are looking for a quick reference
guide to help distinguish between common
diagnoses.
Christina Clarke, MD
Charleston, South Carolina
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2015.08.022
JULY 2017 e21