Textbook of Pleural Diseases Second Edition

Book excerpt: This internationally renowned reference work is a fully updated and expanded second edition of the most comprehensive title available on pleural diseases. Building on the many strengths of the highly respected first edition, the book features a detailed yet lucid basic science section to support understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie diseases of the pleura. This is followed by a wide-ranging series of clinical chapters, discussing both familiar and less common aspects of pleural diseases. Chapters in the clinical section are written in an accessible and uniform style, making extensive use of illustrative material and covering definition, incidence and epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis, clinical presentation, investigations, treatments, possible complications and directions for future development. State-of-the-art scientific knowledge is presented at an appropriate level for the practicing clinician, and published management guidelines are included where relevant. Each chapter concludes with a summary of its 'key points', highlighting practical messages regarding patient management for the reader. Textbook of Pleural Diseases is an indispensable reference for pulmonary physicians and trainees worldwide.