Stell & Maran's Textbook of Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology PDF

Preface

Having been interested in head and neck oncology for nearly 30 years, we are both proud to have been involved in this fifth edition of Stell and Maran's Textbook of Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology. Since the last edition was published ten years ago, significant advances have been made in both the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck diseases and cancer. The aim of this book is to update colleagues on recent developments in molecular biology, highlight changes in methods for pathological diagnosis to include the emerging importance of the human papilloma virus, advances in chemoradiation together with technological developments to include minimally invasive surgery, nerve monitoring, the harmonic scalpel and the robot. Side by side, we were keen to include new techniques in reconstruction, as well as covering audit and quality of life.

The main changes in the book from the last edition include division into sections on benign and malignant disease, treatments with both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as an endocrine section and one on reconstruction. Each section has its own editors and within the sections, most chapters are written by at least two authors chosen for their recognized expertise in each specific field. Selected editors, subeditors and chapter authors bring a significant international flavour to this historically well-established British textbook.

The scope of head and neck cancer management ranges from laboratory science to palliative care, and within this is included treatment with surgery (as well as reconstruction), clinical oncology and subsequent rehabilitation with emphasis on quality of life. Subspecialization is now the norm and therefore some might question the continued wisdom of producing a one volume concise text attempting to address this unique discipline. However, we still believe that the way this book is written providing concise approaches with treatment plans and key points for the specific sites within head and neck cancer continues to be as valid today as it was nearly 40 years ago, when the book was first conceived by Professors Philip Stell and Arnold Maran.

We hope that in its current form, the book will continue to be a major resource not only for trainees but established practitioners in otolaryngology, maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, as well as endocrine surgery and clinical oncology whose specific work includes a major head and neck practice, but also for those professions allied to medicine, such as speech and language therapy, head and neck oncology and Macmillan nurses, as well as dieticians. The algebraic sum of care includes all these disciplines in one form or another, and the care for patients with these diseases continues to evolve. Best practice we feel is represented in this book, and the UK Effective Head and Neck Cancer Management Guidelines (second edition) can be found on the website of the British Association of Otolaryngologists (www.entuk.org).

We gratefully acknowledge all the authors (and in particular the section editors) in this book for their time, effort and expertise in making it such a wonderful source of information for patients with head and neck disease.