Читать книгу Shear's Cysts of the Oral and Maxillofacial Regions - Paul M. Speight - Страница 11

It is an honor to acknowledge and welcome the fifth edition of Cysts of the Oral and Maxillofacial Regions, or in today's vernacular, Cysts of the Oral and Maxillofacial Regions 5.0. The oral and maxillofacial region, because of its anatomic complexity, is home to a variety of cysts and tumors unique to this site. Many of these arise from the epithelial components that form our teeth and are known as odontogenic cysts. Many of these cysts have proved to be more biologically complex than originally thought as the molecular pathogenesis has been investigated and reported. This has blurred the distinction between cysts and cystic neoplasms and the significance of the molecular landscape characterizing some of these cysts is widely and energetically debated today.

The evolution of Cysts of the Oral and Maxillofacial Regions has been remarkable: first edition (1976), second edition (1983), third edition (1992), fourth edition (2007), fifth ed (2022); from a concise text focusing on clinical/radiographic features and standard histologic descriptions illustrated in black and white, to an exhaustive review of every aspect of these cystic lesions richly illustrated in color. Some of the historical literature has been eliminated, particularly where it lacked clinical relevance. The current literature is extensively recorded, as is the diversity of the histologic spectrum, including immunohistochemical phenotypes and molecular/genetic alterations. Two of the world's most experienced and respected oral pathologists are responsible for this text. The text was initiated by Professor Mervyn Shear from Johannesburg, and Professor Paul Speight of the UK joined as a co‐author in 2007, and he currently continues the legacy of this major contribution.

Cysts of the Oral and Maxillofacial Regions has become the definitive source of information about this complex group of lesions. No other contribution covers this topic more extensively and accurately than this text and there is something here for everyone. Clearly it is applicable for students, both predoctoral and postgraduate, as well as to radiologists, pathologists, researchers, surgeons, and other clinicians.

As scientific inquiry has exploded in recent years and the publication interval of the WHO series of classification of tumors has been shortened significantly, so too is it likely that the sixth edition of this text might be just over the horizon. But a lot has been learned since 2007, and detailed description and analysis of this new knowledge are finally available. One of the primary functions of a textbook is not just to convey what is new, but to analyze what has been published and then condense and summarize that information with an aim toward diagnostic and clinical relevancy. Professor Speight has done a masterful job of condensing our knowledge of these cysts into a readable and relevant format. This text is a must for anyone involved in the diagnosis and treatment of cysts of the head and neck. Improving our understanding of this group of lesions improves the quality of care we can provide our patients. And ultimately, that is what it's all about.

John M. Wright, DDS, MS Regents Professor Diagnostic Sciences Texas A&M University College of Dentistry Dallas, Texas USA