1870 BOOK REVIEWS

A Guide to Undertaking Economic Evaluations Within Randomized Controlled Trials of Treat-

ments for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
K. BAXTER, J. COAST AND J. DONOVAN, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United
Kingdom
BJU Int, suppl., 85: 36 41, 2000
No Abstract
Editorial Comment: The authors present a short summary of the key principles involved in
performing an economic evaluation of health care practices. They rely heavily on work origi-
nally written by M. F. Drummond, who is frequently regarded as a founding father of economic
analysis. Urologists who are interested in conducting cost benefit analyses, understanding
economic analyses and being able to assess the validity of this type of work should review this
article. The references provide a nice compendium of the relevant literature in this field.
Peter C. Albertsen, M.D.

BOOK REVIEWS
Fundamentals of Uroradiology
M. R. WILLIAMSON AND A. Y. SMITH, Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Co., 160 pages, 2000
This slim (160 pages) soft cover manual of uroradiology has as its targeted audience residents in radiology
and urology, family practice physicians, nephrologists, emergency room physicians and medical students.
The authors, an ultrasonographer and a urologist, condense imaging of the genitourinary tract into a brief
text, which is readable in a short time to prepare for a clinical rotation or certification examination.
It took me only a few hours to read this manual but I am not sure how helpful it will be to neophyte
urological imagers. It is certainly reasonably priced and generally well written in conversational prose.
Common topics are covered in a concise manner, although there is some redundancy in portions of the text.
There are no references, either general or specific, which is a definite detractor. The editing is suboptimal
with numerous typographical errors. Most problematic are the illustrations. Subtle renal findings on
minified full abdominal excretory urography images are hard to discern. Other urographic cases show
reversal of the image, a misidentified study (retrograde pyelogram instead of excretory urogram) or failure
to point out pertinent additional abnormalities on the image.
The ultrasound material is consistently good, reflecting the area of expertise of one of the authors.
However, the material dealing with computerized tomography (CT) is particularly weak. Renal CT protocols
vary from chapter to chapter, and the one advocated in chapter 1 would not be acceptable to most
radiologists. A statement is made to the effect that any reading below 0 HU implies that fat is present within
a renal lesion. This statement is incorrect, as water density on some CT machines may measure negative
numbers. Many of the CT images were obtained without contrast enhancement, making the observations
more difficult than necessary, particularly to the intended audience with little imaging experience. Two
illustrations (figs. 5-4, B and 7-5, C) are unlikely to be what the authors claim and fit alternative diagnoses
far better.
There are several excellent uroradiological textbooks available, written by uroradiologists, which cover
this material far better than this book. Yes, they cost more and cannot be read in a single evening, but they
contain more accurate information, greater depth, better illustrations and references for further study.
Nancy Curry, M.D.
Department of Radiology
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Sexual Health for Men: The Complete Guide
R. F. SPARK, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Perseus Publishing, 396 pages, 2000
The author, a well-known endocrinologist, has written this book for laymen who wish to acquire compre-
hensive information regarding a wide variety of issues related to male sexual health. The 28 chapters of the
book include thorough coverage of the anatomy and physiology of the sexual response cycle, and there is
detailed discussion of issues related to libido, erection, orgasm and ejaculation. Diagnosis and treatments
for disorders of sexual function are covered in a comprehensive, balanced fashion and are up-to-date.
Prostate anatomy and physiology are well discussed as are disorders, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia
and carcinoma of the prostate. However, considering the importance of prostate specific antigen to most men
older than 50 years, this test and its interpretation are covered in a cursory fashion. Also, a discussion of
the various forms of prostatitis and their treatments is absent, and there is little information regarding