This pocket reference (5x8.5") for students and practitioners contains 112 brief chapters of material abridged from the editors' Textbook of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. Early chapters review general issues such as respiratory function and mechanics, history taking and the physical examination, pulmonary function testing, and mycobacteria affecting the lungs. A number of chapters concentrate on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis. Later chapters cover specific conditions such as pneumonia, fungal infections, and cystic fibrosis. There are several chapters on asthma and COPD, as well as material on diving, space travel, and other extreme environments, occupational lung diseases, and lung cancer. The book includes a few b&w images, plus many charts, summary tables, and decision-making algorithms. Jindal teaches pulmonary medicine at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, India. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)