Histological Diagnosis of Tumours by Pattern Analysis

From The Critics

Reviewer: Francis H. Straus II, MD, MS(University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine)
Description: This tumor histopathology text is divided into three sections. Section one is divided into definitions of appearance-oriented categories instead of the usual systems-oriented approach. The main portion of the book, section two, is a listing of tumors and tumor-like conditions divided alphabetically by first letters of their diagnostic name, under which are brief descriptions of panoramic view pattern, secondary features, cell morphology, differential diagnosis, special diagnostic procedures, and bibliography. Section three discusses tumors of systemic tissue locations with specific morphologic features. A listing of differential diagnoses follows.
Purpose: Basically, this book presents a practical alternate approach in diagnosing tumors and tumor-like conditions. The authors suggest starting in pictureless section three, finding the differential diagnosis, and then checking each diagnosis in section two to choose the most likely single diagnosis that is appropriate for the case. These are worthy objectives. In trying this with several sham cases, it does not always work so smoothly.
Audience: The most likely users are individuals practicing surgical pathology needing help with tumor histopathology. This is not a text of explanations covering principles or pathogenesis of pathologic processes.
Features: The first section covering specific histologic features gives a definition, a photomicrograph, and a list of tumor entities showing that histologic feature with page references to section two covering each entity individually. One uses section one or section three to access the section two listing of each tumor. Color illustrations accompany some section two alphabetical listings. The bibliography for each entry is listed alphabetically by author's last name and is much more oriented to the European literature. References are quite topical and current. There is a useful index at the end.
Assessment: The idea is fresh and intriguing, but categorization and completeness come into question. In a refined form, the ideas might be good, but for now this book does not work well enough to switch away from more standard approaches. It is aimed at a functioning surgical pathology laboratory, and it is my guess that further development will be necessary before it is widely accepted in that setting.

Francis H. Straus II

This tumor histopathology text is divided into three sections. Section one is divided into definitions of appearance-oriented categories instead of the usual systems-oriented approach. The main portion of the book, section two, is a listing of tumors and tumor-like conditions divided alphabetically by first letters of their diagnostic name, under which are brief descriptions of panoramic view pattern, secondary features, cell morphology, differential diagnosis, special diagnostic procedures, and bibliography. Section three discusses tumors of systemic tissue locations with specific morphologic features. A listing of differential diagnoses follows. Basically, this book presents a practical alternate approach in diagnosing tumors and tumor-like conditions. The authors suggest starting in pictureless section three, finding the differential diagnosis, and then checking each diagnosis in section two to choose the most likely single diagnosis that is appropriate for the case. These are worthy objectives. In trying this with several sham cases, it does not always work so smoothly. The most likely users are individuals practicing surgical pathology needing help with tumor histopathology. This is not a text of explanations covering principles or pathogenesis of pathologic processes. The first section covering specific histologic features gives a definition, a photomicrograph, and a list of tumor entities showing that histologic feature with page references to section two covering each entity individually. One uses section one or section three to access the section two listing of each tumor. Color illustrations accompany some section two alphabetical listings. The bibliography for eachentry is listed alphabetically by author's last name and is much more oriented to the European literature. References are quite topical and current. There is a useful index at the end. The idea is fresh and intriguing, but categorization and completeness come into question. In a refined form, the ideas might be good, but for now this book does not work well enough to switch away from more standard approaches. It is aimed at a functioning surgical pathology laboratory, and it is my guess that further development will be necessary before it is widely accepted in that setting.

2 Stars from Doody