Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformation

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Resource
Review: In preparation for a future career in genetic counselling, I asked for this volume on my 16th birthday. Admittedly, it is a strange request for a teenager, but it has proved to be a great resource of information. I'm now in a work-study program, and thanks in no small part to studying this book, I can hold my own in conversations about Kabuki, CHARGE or Waardenburg Syndromes.

I highly recommend this book for preprofessionals who are interested in pursuing a career in clinical medicine.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding, easily assimilated clinical reference
Review: This is a really outstanding clinical reference. It is of particular relevance to genetic counselors, pediatric specialists, dermatologists, and other clinicians who frequently encounter patients with congenital anomalies and uncommon syndromes. Although the clinical photos are in black and white (no color), they are well chosen to illustrate the features of the (many) syndromes discussed. I have seen several texts that cover roughly the same subject matter as Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformation; however, none are as comprehensive or nearly as easy to use. I expect this text will replace MEDLINE as my initial go-to reference when I need to get info regarding patients with uncommon congenital syndromes. This text would be a bargain at twice the price! I recommend it most highly

Rating:
Summary: Superb Resource
Review: This is the best book about congenital malformations available for general pediatricians. It is highly accessible and fairly easy to use. It really helps one put together a differential diagnosis for children with dysmorphic features. The price makes it a bargain that should be in every general pediatric clinic.

I do have one suggested improvement: This book is perfect for conversion into a searchable CD-ROM so that one could simply key in the list of features and get back a list of possible syndromes ranked by likelihood.