3rd Edition
Edited by David Cooper and Jennifer Sipos
Published CRC Press published December 2018
ISBN 978-1-138-57723-7
Price £125
This excellent and relatively slim (it runs to over 300 pages) book does exactly what it says on the title. This is a superb yet detailed review of thyroid disease and its medical management and according to the preface, it is 10 years since the second edition appeared. So, I would guess a lot has happened in the interim and I am sure for many thyroid specialists, this is a welcome addition to their support system when dealing with patients.
Without doubt it is a book aimed squarely at specialists and some people who from a medical perspective manage thyroid disorders. However, I would guess general endocrinologists and thyroid surgeons would also find this really good book useful. Although I am a GP and a lot of the material within the book, is not of big practical interest to me, I still found some of the information presented to me, very interesting. For example, I found the section on solitary toxic nodules on page 61 informative. I am sure that both trainees and specialists in thyroid disorders-particularly in the medical specialties, will find this book most useful. There is also a chapter (chapter 11) on the surgical approach to thyroid disorders and the next chapter is thyroid disease and pregnancy. Some people from other specialities may find these sections most interesting.
In a book that goes into depth about thyroid disorders, there are some fascinating sections for example on Page 149, there is an interesting section about mimics of hypothyroidism. Also on page 182, I was surprised to learn that thyroid cancer is number 5 in the list of the most common cancers that affect women.
Another most useful gem is a problem that I have faced on a number of occasions in the past. Managing thyroid replacement in pregnant women who have been taking levothyroxine prior to pregnancy can be tricky. So step forwards Table 12.2 on page 281 is a six point management list which I wish I had access to in the past.
This book is well written, understandable and to the point and within just over 300 pages, it will offer advice on a huge range of medical thyroid problems. It is aimed very much at the specialist but makes interesting reading for other interested healthcare professionals. It is not a cheap book to buy but for the right user, this modern textbook could certainly be a great addition to a personal or departmental library.
Dr Harry Brown
March 2019