The endoscope with magnifying lens systems and retrotympanic sub-regions. During microsurgical pro angled view has, in all oto-rhino-laryngology, been cedures, the recognition of pathologic changes in developed from a basically diagnostical tool into a sur niches, recesses or occluded tunnels is considerably gical instrument. Earlier, it served to see what exists. facilitated. The disadvantages of the operating micro Nowadays, it is continuously changing what one does. scope -reduced brightness and bad focus with higher Jean-Marc Thomassin's book "Otoendoscopically magnifieations, no angled view- can be compensated guided surgey" appears as the first guide into this new by additional endoscopy with the instrument's tip field of otoendoscopic control of microsurgery of the close to the target and with the view "around the cor ear. The author has achieved to compile and codify ner". what, during recent years, was already looked at by While thus visualizing remote areas or hidden him and by a "happy few" of otological pilots. But, he spots by a rigid magnifying endoscope with an angled has also added new insights into this matter. One may view direction apparently no patho-anatomical secret say that he has provided a solid basis for both the remains undiscovered. What can be inspected can be scholars and the experts who want to enrich their cleaned, there are adequate instruments. This fact arsenal of otosurgical techniques. makes the analysis of surgical failures more plausible.

Cancer of the head and neck continues to be a challenge. Increasing incidence has pushed malignancy of the upper aerodigestive tract into the first rank of cancer. In some countries it follows bronchial carcinoma in frequency and is more common than gastro-intestinal and gynaecological cancer. This increasing incidence makes it difficult to train enough highly specialised staffwho are also responsible for the care of many other patients, requiring sophisticated microsurgery of the ear and nose. The question of quality is even more difficult. Oncological success in the treat ment of head and neck cancer is bought at the price of crippling of vital functions such as eating, breathing, voice and sight and furthermore of striking aesthetic de formity. Mutilation of this highly functional collection of organs is more keenly felt than that of any other region of the body. It is vital, therefore, that the surgeon keeps up with the recent achievements of functional surgery in order to offer the best ser vice to his patients. Cancer of the larynx is no exception. Despite newer techniques of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, surgery still gives the best oncological results. This requires a wide spectrum of operations varying from minimal ablation to total laryngectomy."