Ronald Hamdy and Michael Lewiecki have written a handbook on osteoporosis aimed at the primary clinician. While small in size, Osteoporosis is comprehensive and covers much of what larger osteoporosis texts cover, including epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management. Much emphasis is placed on diagnostic imaging for osteoporosis, particularly dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), considered the current “gold standard” for diagnosis. Interestingly, the authors, both of whom are experts in DXA, present information to help clinicians perform DXA correctly. Attention to patient positioning and to quality control procedures are particularly important for diagnosis and for following the response to therapy. The clinician who reads this book and uses the guidance provided will do a better job of diagnosing osteoporosis and will be better able to determine whether a patient has actually responded to the therapy. The coverage of the various therapies for osteoporosis is detailed, with emphasis on postmenopausal osteoporosis. There is more than adequate coverage of the potential side effects of therapy and some guidance on longterm management.
For the practicing clinician, time is the most precious commodity. Will the generalist take the time to read through this book? The value of doing so is clear, but I am not sure that even a small volume will appeal to the clinician who must be knowledgeable about many disorders and diseases.