Having just reviewed Endoscopic Approaches to the Paranasal Sinuses and Skull Base (Bernal-Sprekelsen and Alobid) from the same publishers, I was impressed that rhinology, once the Cinderella of ENT, is again in the spotlight. I did wonder if there would be much duplication however, as the earlier book did very much concentrate on advanced skull base approaches and I did note the similar subheading of this latest publication. This is different, however, and it does come with the videos that I thought so essential to guide the novice and which were lacking in the earlier release. This is a robust, spiral-bound book, ideal for the rigours of the dissection laboratory.

Imaging and coloured line diagrams accompany a comprehensive text, but, most notable, is the profusion of very high quality colour artwork, rather than endoscopic photographs, to illustrate surgical anatomy. This is very lifelike and works far better than I would have first imagined.

The text is divided into three sections, Introduction to Surgical Landmarks, Basic Techniques of Endoscopic Sinonasal Surgery and, finally, Advanced Skull Base, where few will venture.

But then come the videos, and these are not the usual padding or an afterthought, which so often comes with textbooks. Some are just a few minutes of real-life surgery to demonstrate recommended techniques and some are lengthy cadaver dissections; all are really well filmed, with audible and useful commentary. This all makes for a bargain purchase for any department.

The end result is a well-illustrated guide to endoscopic rhinology, with content for surgeons ranging from the novice trainee to the established functional endoscopic sinus surgeon who suddenly feels that urge to deliberately progress from the nose and into the orbit and skull base.