This is a nicely presented book that would be valuable in the library of any breast unit. Breast disease, and in particular breast cancer is addressed in a systematic way, with chapters on anatomy, assessment, symptoms, screening, DCIS, and then the epidemiology, pathology, staging and treatment of breast cancer. The final chapter is devoted to the complications of the treatment of breast cancer.
The authors are two surgeons and a pathologist from the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. This leads to a consistency throughout the book that is often lacking in multi-authored books, and it is written in clear prose and in a pleasingly direct manner.
The illustrations are superb, with excellent examples of clinical presentations and patholgoical specimens. The Edinburgh Unit has been pioneering in its introduction of oncoplastic techniques in the surgery for early breast cancer and this area is well convered in this atlas. The examples of radiological images are not up to the high standard set elsewhere, one area where the book could be improved.
The text represents a comprehensive outline of breast cancer and its management. It is presented as an overview rather than an indepth textbook. This means that the book will be of use to those entering rather than already expert in the field of breast cancer. For the former, it is an excellent primer.
Some of the discussion reflects practice in the UK and is not particularly relevant to Australia. The section on axillary staging is an example, where the 4-node sampling procedure is presented along with sentinel node biopsy, in a way that a reader new to the area may conclude that both are reasonable options. This does not reflect Australian thinking, where sentinel node is now standard.
The main shortcoming of the book is a reflection of the authorship list. This is largely an atlas of breast cancer diagnosis and surgery, rather than of comprehensive multidisciplinary breast cancer management. Systemic therapy is not covered in nearly the same depth as surgical therapy, and radiotherapy receives little attention. It may be these areas were given less attention than surgery because they tend to be less visual, however images of radiotherapy acute and late effects would be a useful addition. Similarly, the welcome section on complications of the treatment of breast cancer is mainly focused on poor cosmetic outcomes or complications of breast reconstructive procedures. Complications of adjuvant therapies are only briefly covered and the psychosocial complications barely mentioned.
In summary, this book belongs on the bookshelf of a breast unit. Those most likely to use it are medical, nursing and allied health staff who are entering the field of breast cancer and need an accessible way to understand the concepts of breast cancer treatment.