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This is a volume of very large size (67 chapters) written by a very large number of authors (85) and directed at a very ambitious goal: "to fill the need for a single comprehensive volume concerning disorders involving the alimentary canal, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas." Indeed, almost all conceivable aspects of the physiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diseases, and diagnostic methods relevant to these organs are considered. In general, the chapters are concise and well written by appropriate authorities and contain useful information, as current as possible considering the complicated circumstances of compiling a multiauthored text.
Most of the chapters represent useful contributions. The well written discussions of epidemiologic, genetic, and historical aspects of gastroenterology are unique, and the discussions of the involvement of the gastrointestinal tract in diseases of other systems are welcome. The chapter on the "Roentgenologic Diagnosis of Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract" has an extraordinarily complete listing