Editors: Diethelm Wallwiener, MD; Sven Becker, MD; and Umberto Veronesi, MD
Publisher: Thieme – 160 pages
Book Review by: Hiro Motiram

In 1960, the world-renowned Atlas of Gynecologic Surgery first appeared, in which there was a section on breast surgery. Since then, knowledge in various aspects of gynecology has grown tremendously, and subspecialties have evolved within it. Diseases of the breast have become among the more frequently-diagnosed conditions by gynecologists, the editors point out in the Preface. So in today’s trend toward specialization, especially in surgery, breast surgery has become a field of its own with a large knowledge and practice base.

That is one reason why Atlas of Breast Surgery  came into being. The editors write that this book “lays the groundwork for a proven, concise, international school of thought in breast surgery.” Nine people worked to develop this book. Among them, three (named above) did the editorial work as well as provide part of the content. The other six (named at the end of this book review) contributed by sharing their knowledge, experience, and valuable insight.

We provide below for you a brief overview of what you’ll find in this book. A detailed listing of topics covered in it is provided in the book itself.

  • Preliminary Remarks about the Region
    • Topography of Chest Wall, Axilla, and Back
    • Breast Cancer
    • Breast Surgery and Esthetics
    • Terminology and Diagnosis
  • Concepts for Surgical Treatment – Procedure Navigator
    • Aims of Treatment
  • Surgical Techniques
    • Surgery of Benign Disease
    • Surgery of Malignant Disease
    • Reconstructive and Esthetic Breast Surgery

This is a book with a large format that is 12 inches long by 11 inches wide, ideal for detailed illustrations. The fine artwork was done by Andrea Schnitzler and Karl Heinz-Seeber. The book has an exalted a respected quality only because of their expert graphical depictions that number more than 200, and are presented on generous amounts of space.

Precise measurements, instructional marks, and well-written captions are provided for the drawings to enable surgeons (and surgeons-in-training) plan their procedures correctly.

Let us take a look at how materials are organized and presented in the book by browsing through Surgery of Malignant Disease from page 45 though 91. There are seven topics in this section:

  • Simple, Complex, and Oncoplastic Breast-Conserving Surgery
  • Complex Oncoplastic Breast-Conserving Operations
  • Complex Oncoplastic Breast-Conserving Surgery with Additional Reduction in Mammoplasty (TARM)
  • Complex Oncoplastic Breast-Conserving Surgery with Filling of the Defect by Autologous Tissue
  • Simple Ablative Operations – Modified Radial Mastectomy
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Dissection
  • Radical Axillary Lymph Node Dissection

Among the benefits of using this book are the following:

  • A-plus, detailed, over 200 fine line drawings
  • Breast-conserving approach in benign cases or when oncologically feasible
  • Comprehensive coverage of esthetic and reconstructive techniques
  • Detailed descriptions and illustrations of common to complex surgical procedures
  • Editors and authors : world-renowned, experienced breast surgeons and physicians

 

Editors:

Diethelm Wallwiener, MD is Professor and Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology  at University Hospital Tubingen in Tubingen, Germany

Sven Becker, MD is Professor and Director of the Frankfurt University Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Division Head of Gynecologic Oncology and Gynecologic Specialties at University Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany.

Umberto Veronesi, MD is Professor and Scientific Director of the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy.

 

Contributors:

Markus Hahn, MD is Associate Professor at University Breast Center in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University Hospital Tubingen in Tubingen, Germany.

Matthias W. Beckmann, MD is Professor and Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University Hospital Erlangen in Erlangen, Germany,

Sara Brucker, MD is Professor and Vice Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University Hospital Tubingen in Tubingen, Germany.

Susan E. Clare, MD is Research Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University Hospital Tubingen in Tubingen, Germany.

Klaus Friese, MD is Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University Hospital Munich in Munich, Germany.

Walter Jonat, MD is Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University Hospital in Kiel, Germany.