This book aims to teach the students and residents general principles on the surgical management of diseases of the colon and rectum. Each chapter covers a major disease category—acute inflammation, ulcerative colitis, granulomatous disease, ischemic lesions, problems of fixation, benign and malignant tumors, and lower rectal and anal lesions. Aspects of anatomy, pathophysiology, and medical and surgical management principles are given.
The book is written in an easily readable fashion, with very few specific data or statistics cited. The illustrations are superb; only two depict surgical technique. The reference lists, few in number and intended to offer only a starting point for the student, are not keyed in the text. Thus, the reader could not find out which article to read if he has a specific question in mind, eg, where to learn more about the role of radiation therapy in treating regional enteritis (p 107). However, this book fulfills