Diagnostic Pathology: Transplant Pathology, 3rd Edition

By: Anthony Chang, MD

ISBN: 9780443250088

Publication Date: May 21, 2024

Reviewer: Camille Cassiopeia Van Neste, MD, PhD (University of Michigan Medical School)

Description

This book is an offering in the Diagnostic Pathology series and provides a concise overview of organ transplant pathology. It draws on the knowledge of 20 experts to provide the latest updates in this rapidly changing field. The previous edition was published in 2018.

Purpose

The book serves its intended purpose as a guide for diagnosing complex and nuanced pathologies in the context of organ transplantation and as a reference for understanding the underlying processes.

Audience

This is a practical reference for surgical pathologists of all levels of training who encounter transplant pathology in their practice. It has been compiled by 20 of the leading experts in the field.

Features

This book provides a detailed overview of transplant pathologies complete with diagnostic checklists, differential diagnoses, and a plethora of reference images. As with the other books in the Diagnostic Pathology series, the content is organized in neatly demarcated subsections in bullet-point form accompanied by numerous illustrative gross and microscopic images which are of excellent quality. The book begins with an overview of the foundations of transplant immunology, pre-transplant testing, post-transplant monitoring, and mechanisms of immunosuppression, supported by many detailed diagrams. The following seven sections are each devoted to a transplanted organ: kidney, liver, heart, lung, intestine, pancreas, and vascular composites (which include limbs and faces).

In each section, the book covers organ-specific pathologies of drug toxicity, opportunistic infections, disease indications for transplant, manifestations of recurrent disease, and graft rejection. Each entity includes subsections of terminology, clinical presentations, pathogenesis, microscopic features ancillary testing, and updated diagnostic criteria. Finally, the book concludes with a chapter on neoplastic disorders unique to post-transplant patients.

Website Features

The eBook is easily navigable; it provides a clickable table of contents, a scroll bar, page number, or allows searching for specific text. Text can be highlighted so it can be searched for on the web, or it can be saved to a collection of highlighted texts which can be shared with other users.

Additionally, the ebook allows for bookmarking pages, writing notes, and creating flashcards. References contain hyperlinks to PubMed. The browsing experience can be personalized by changing the color palette, text size, scrolling options, and paragraph formatting. Images are enlarged compared to the physical copy, and can be further zoomed in on.

The accompanying eBook is available from Elsevier Health eBooks website on any major browser or the Elsevier’s eBook app in any major app store. The platform does not support printing, saving images, or directly sharing of the book’s content with others.

Assessment

Transplant medicine is a rapidly changing field as treatments and technologies try to mitigate the scarcity of donor organs. This includes innovations such as transplanting HIV positive organs into HIV positive recipients, blood-type incongruent transplants, face and limb transplants, new immune-modulating therapies, and devices to prolong graft viability during transport. As all pathologists, regardless of subspecialty, will encounter specimens from transplanted patients it is vital to be able to recognize pathologies that manifest in the context of transplantation, and this book successfully fills this need. However, this book far exceeds the role of a “quick reference” text providing a snapshot of the current state of the field. The book also describes the history of organ transplant practices (helpful to understand the progression of our knowledge as well as in evaluating patients who have been transplanted long ago), explains useful findings in preclinical studies, and introduces the latest advances such as islet cell transplantation, cellular therapy to promote transplant tolerance, and kidney xenotransplantation. The added depth makes this book a fantastic resource for understanding the underlying mechanisms of disease and therapies as well as engaging in multi-disciplinary care for complex patients, while the clear organization of the content ensures that the book retains readability for usual use. Overall, this practical book serves as an excellent addition to a personal or departmental library.

©Doody’s Review Service, 2024, Camille Cassiopeia Van Neste, MD, PhD (University of Michigan Medical School), Doody’s Review: 95 – 4 Stars!

Purchase your copy of Diagnostic Pathology: Transplant Pathology, 3rd Edition here!