Surgery of the Pancreas

The second edition of Surgery of the Pancreas is an outstanding and excellent contribution to the surgical literature. Although the title is simple and straightforward, the book embodies the full evaluation of both malignant and benign pancreatic diseases as well as the pathophysiologic characteristics that are often associated with these processes. This edition significantly expands on the first edition with a number of new additions involving the underlying mechanisms of pancreatic disease, which include enlargements on the sections on cytology and a well-thought-out and comprehensive discussion on cystic diseases of the pancreas. The text is divided into 12 sections beginning with the introduction to the history of pancreatic surgery followed by the anatomy and physiological characteristics of the pancreas, which is nicely outlined in a thorough manner. The 52 contributors to this text hail from both the European and American communities of pancreatic surgical scientists, with each of the contributors maintaining a cohesive and nonredundant style. The quality of the writing is outstanding, making each chapter readable. The artwork within each chapter, particularly the radiographs, such as magnetic resonance images, computed tomographic scans, or ultrasonograms, were well chosen not only for the description of the stated topic but also for their quality. Although this is not an atlas, the areas where descriptions of operative procedures are discussed are replete with excellent descriptions and details in performing the described procedures.