Bernal-Sprekelsen M, Carrau RL, Dazert S, et al. Complications in Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. Thieme; 2013; 352 pgs.; 416 illustrations, $199.99

While neuroradiologists are familiar with many of the postoperative complications (hemorrhage, infection, pneumocephalus, CSF leak, seromas, and infarctions/ischemia, etc) following otolaryngological surgery, there are some abnormalities with which we may not be familiar.

This multi-authored book (63 contributors), has 3 major sections (“Otology and Lateral Skull”; “Rhinology and Anterior Skull Base”; “Head and Neck Surgery”). The lattermost contains complications related to the oral cavity/oropharynx, larynx trachea, salivary glands, thyroid/parathyroid, neck surgery, and reconstructive surgery. This book is aimed at ENT surgeons, and, as a result, there are intraoperative photographs along with diagrams of procedures and postoperative imaging studies.

Complications encountered less frequently, but ones with which we should be familiar, are described, and a fair number are accompanied by imaging. This reviewer would encourage the editors of this book to include more imaging in future editions. Nonetheless, we see examples (in addition to the more common entities mentioned earlier in this review) of lymphoceles, trigeminal trophic syndrome, osseous necrosis, tracheal complications, salivary fistula, pharyngeal stenosis, sialoceles, and so forth. There are other important complications that are clearly described for which one could imagine the corresponding imaging pitfalls, many of which can be avoided by close inspection of the preoperative imaging.

This book will be of interest to radiologists involved in interpretations of head and neck imaging.