Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, in which the cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). This lethal disease is associated with asbestos and has vast economic and legal implications. As the disease takes approximately twenty years to manifest itself in humans, a wave of diagnoses is expected in the near future. In the United States alone, an estimated 3,500 - 4,000 patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually, and it is estimated that over the next 35 years, more than 250,000 people in Western Europe will be diagnosed with the disease. Malignant Mesothelioma, edited by internationally recognized experts in the field, is a comprehensive text that relates science, pathology, clinical aspects and therapy for mesothelioma under one cover. The book integrates the newest research and advances in its discussions of the disease, covering such topics as carcinogenesis, epidemiology, benchwork, endoscopy, multimodality approaches and treatment. It includes discussions on novel approaches to mesothelioma, such as gene therapy, vaccination strategies and immunotherapy, as well as discussions on the legal and economic aspects of the disease. Over 200 illustrations round out the text. An invaluable reference for the medical oncologist, thoracic surgeon, radiation oncologist, pulmonologist, and benchworker interested in the disease.

A condensed version of the critically-acclaimed SURGERY: BASIC SCIENCE AND CLINICAL EVIDENCE, Essential Practice of Surgery provides a state-of-the-art, evidence-based approach to surgery for surgeons, residents and medical students. The book is divided into 8 comprehensive sections, providing the most succinct coverage of crtical topics: Care of the Surgical Patient; Gastrointestinal & Abdominal Disease; Endocrine Surgery; Vascular Surgery; Cardiothoracic Surgery; Transplantation; Cancer; and Associated Disciplines. Over 250 illustrations and 340 tables, including 62 evidence-based tables, complement the text. Reviews of SURGERY: "...a fresh approach... [the book] emphasizes the basic science underlying the practice of surgery and the evidence supporting clinical decisions. The text is clearly written and the chapters are well-illustrated. There is also a unique feature: several hundred evidence-based tables. These tables allow the reader to reach conclusions on the basis of data." -- New England Journal of Medicine "Is it different from the existing textbooks of surgery? Did the authors achieve their principal goal of providing an evidence-based approach to surgical decision making? Would I recommend it to the surgical residents in my program?...the answer to all these questions is yes. The ambitious undertaking of creating an evidence-based textbook of surgery has largel succeeded and I heartily recommend it." -- Journal of the American Medical Association "During a period of numerous adventures into the textbook arena, this is different in focus and quality. The 130 contributors constitute an excellent group of young surgeons, who, along with the editors, have stayed the course with this interesting format. Surgery: Basic Science and Clinical Evidence is reader friendly with excellent illustrations and 200 evidence-based tables. -- Archives of Surgery