Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice, 7th Edition

By Ronald Hoffman, MD

ISBN: 978-0-323-35762-3

Pub Date: 8/15/2017

Reviewed by: Valerie L. Ng, PhD MD (Alameda County Medical Center/Highland Hospital)

Description

This seventh edition of an authoritative reference on hematology includes access to an ebook version. The previous edition was published in 2013.

Purpose

Although the authors do not specifically state a purpose, the title is fully informative — it is a complete reference for hematology, spanning basic principles to clinical practice. Having the book both in print and online really enhances its value. The online version can be readily accessed via any mobile device “just in time,” and obviates the need to lug around this weighty tome (approximately 10 pounds). Both the book and website superbly achieve the desired objectives.

Audience

This book is appropriate for any health practitioner wanting detailed and definitive information about hematological conditions. Since it is so comprehensive, it is most suitable for fellows training in hematology/oncology or hematopathology, or any practicing hematologist/oncologist, laboratory medicine senior resident, fellow, or attending, or internists in practice who might want current and detailed information on hematological conditions. The authors and contributors are most credible authorities in their subject areas.

Features

The book covers all of hematology. It is truly comprehensive and awe inspiring. Pretty much everything you might want to know about anything hematological is in this book. The discussion of the pathophysiology of hematological disorders, spanning biochemistry to molecular to cellular to organ systems, is simply breathtaking in its enormity, accuracy, detail, and completeness. I very much appreciate the thoughtful and didactic approach — so refreshing in this day and age of educational material simplified into superficial bullet points. The book is divided into 13 major sections, with each section having multiple chapters covering all aspects of the general area. I could find detailed, esoteric information not easily retrieved by internet searches. For example I’ve been puzzling over a recent observation of a WBC with a “ring” nucleus. Couldn’t find anything online or in any of many atlases, until I found a picture of one in this book and learned it represented a dysplastic neutrophil and actually had an official name (“rodent cell!”). Wow, where else can you find this esoteric information? This book is a gold mine.

Assessment

Get this book. It is one of the best comprehensive references for clinical hematology.

Doody’s Review Service Weighted Numerical Score: 94 – 4 Stars!