Why should an update of DIGM be published? The editors state their aim in the preface: “(1) more detailed presentations of diseases incompletely covered (e.g., pyoderma gangrenosum, graft-versus-host disease, erythema elevatum diutinum, variegate porphyria); (2) presentations of subjects in which recent knowledge has considerably altered our understanding (e.g., cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, the prognosis of Stage I primary melanoma of the skin, the pivotal role of the Langerhans cells in immunologic reactions of the skin); and (3) considerations of new therapies such as the retinoids, …”

In reading the text from cover to cover, one is impressed with the overall excellent result in achieving the stated aim. The quality and usefulness of the 17 chapters necessarily varies somewhat since there are 28 contributors, but there is a continuous theme of weaving together modern investigative techniques, the latest knowledge and theories of basic science, and practical clinical dermatology.

The text uses high quality binding, paper, and readable print.