Such an important subject as urinary diversion is unlikely to remain unchanged and unchallenged for long. The problem is to determine when is an appropriate time to examine current clinical practice of this major urological procedure. Historically, urinary diversion began with attempts to resolve the distressing problems associated with ectopia vesicae; later, urinary diversion was extended to help those patients with neurological problems of bladder function and with malignant diseases of the lower urinary tract. A significant landmark in the development and use of these procedures came with the introduction of a uretero-ileostomy (ileal conduit) by Bricker. With this diversion, faecal and urinary streams were separated and the incidence of metabolic and infective problems dramatically reduced. The procedure was received with great enthusiasm and indeed the pendulum soon swung so far in its favour that some urologists would scarcely admit to carrying out an occasional ureterosigmoidostomy. The impact of change in a surgical technique can be slow to determine especially when, numerically, it is an uncommon procedure and when the follow-up is hoped to match normal life expectancy. Thus the impact of ileal conduits has taken some years to evaluate and only during the past decade have the data been sufficient to show the advantages and disadvantages. This book is a landmark in the literature on this subject. The editor has selected eminent contributors who have described the main clinical groups where urinary diversion is an important aspect of management.

For more than 60 years, the Californian Family Hinman has exercised a very considerable influence on the development and practice of the highest grade of urology, not only in the American West but worldwide. The leitmotiv of the Hinman School has been honest and thoughtful consideration of the problems of the genitourinary system gone awry. Character is the quintessence of the Hinmans. This virtue distinguishes the present volume on benign pros tatic hypertrophy assembled and edited by Frank Hinman, Jr. I first came under the spell of Frank Hinman, Sr. via his classic studies of renal counterbalance. In brief, in an experimental animal the ureter of one kidney was ligated and the subsequent renal hypertrophy of its contrala teral mate was studied quantitatively from anatomic and functional stand points. There were two central questions in the Hinman study: How does a normal kidney of an experimental animal recognize that its load has been doubled abruptly? What is the signal for renal hypertrophy? Benign hypertrophy of the prostate is quite different from compensatory hypertrophy of the kidney. It is now known that benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is not a hypertrophy but a benign tumor consisting of a collection of spheroids of micro- and macrodimensions. In technical terms BPH is an adenofibromyoma. Perusal of the present volume will reveal many fascinating facets of BPH of particular interest to urologists and others with an investigative bent of BPH does not occur in children. BPH occurs as a medical rarity in mind."

After historical introduction, the aspiration technique and imaging modalities are described. Thereafter, the use of aspiration cytology in the diagnosis and mainly in the sta- ging of urologic cancers is on still not well known appli- cations of the procedure in the staging of some organs (bladder, adrenals, penis, testis and secondary ureteral strictures) are reported.