The Vulva: A Clinician's Practical Handbook

The Vulva, co-authored by a dermatologist and a gynaecologist, presents a multidisciplinary approach to vulval disease with practical management recommendations for a wide range of vulval conditions. Presenting their text as a summation of 20 years of collective experience working with patients with vulval disease, the Sydney-based authors note the lack of well conducted research to inform management, and are frank in stating that their approach may not always be supported by published trials. Nonetheless, key references are included at the end of each chapter (including several peer-reviewed journal articles by one of the authors) and the rationale for varying treatment approaches is well discussed. The book is compact, the text easy to read. Colour coding of each chapter is helpful in navigating and returning to sections of interest. There is a short glossary of terms used throughout the book and an easy to use, comprehensive index. The opening chapter introduces a patient-centred approach to vulval disease, with a brief overview of anatomy before discussing common presentations, principles of history taking, examination and investigation. Vulval pathology, from the common to unusual, is addressed in six chapters based on clinical presentations: