British Journal of Radiology 75 (2002),395 © 2002 The British Institute of Radiology
Gamut Index of Skeletal Dysplasias. An aid to radiodiagnosis (3rd edn). By K Kozlowski and P Beighton, pp. xxii+256, 2001 (Springer-Verlag, London, UK), £60.00 ISBN 1-85233-365-0
D Pilling
This is the 3rd edition of a well respected aid to the diagnosis of skeletal dysplasias, the first edition of which was produced in the mid 1980s. A stimulus for the new edition, as well as to update with a few newly described dysplasias, was the enormous strides made in molecular genetics in recent years and to include some recent advances made in the antenatal diagnosis of skeletal dysplasias.
The book is divided into three sections, the first on generalized skeletal abnormalities, the second on regional skeletal abnormalities and the third and largest section being a summary of the clinical, radiological and genetic data of skeletal dysplasias arranged alphabetically. The authors have aimed this book at those who regularly encounter difficult problems of potential skeletal dysplasias but have not attempted to be entirely comprehensive, excluding the very rarest of dysplasias. This book, however, fulfils its aim admirably and should enable most radiologists and paediatricians to categorize the commoner dysplasias, with much guidance as to further reading for those wishing to go into greater depth. I am sure this book will find its way on to the book shelves of many radiology departments dealing with children.
