Diagnostic Pathology: Hepatobiliary and Pancreas, 2nd Edition

By Laura Webb Lamps, MD and Sanjay Kakar, MD

ISBN: 978-0-323-44307-4

Pub Date: 11/28/2016

Reviewed by: Ivan Damjanov, MD (University of Kansas Medical Center)

Description

Part of the well-known Diagnostic Pathology series that provides amply illustrated books on all the major organ systems of the body, this book covers liver, biliary, and pancreatic pathology. This second edition is accompanied by an ebook version. Readers may choose between the print and the electronic versions, both of which are user friendly and technically of the highest quality.

Purpose

The aim of the book (like all others in the series) is to provide summarized data supplemented by illustrations and thus assist practicing pathologists and their trainees in their diagnostic work.

Audience

This comprehensive book is intended primarily for diagnostic surgical pathologists. However, it may be used by trainees and students as well.

Hepatologists, oncologists, and surgeons might consult it and use it in their practice as well. In a book of this size and format, there is something for everybody. The editors and most of the contributors are well-known and well-published gastrointestinal pathologists, recognized for their scientific and clinical and educational contributions, their writings, seminars, and lectures.

Features

Printed on some 450 pages of relatively large format, this book covers the diseases of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas. There are 10 chapters on liver disease and six chapters on diseases of the biliary tract and pancreas.

The topics include common diseases such as viral or drug-induced hepatitis to uncommon disorders such as various genetic diseases like tyrosinemia or Gaucher disease. Medical and surgical disorders are covered in detail and given space to reflect their significance in clinical practice. The Diagnostic Pathology series pioneered some years ago by Amirsys has become one of the leading resources for diagnostic hospital-based and academic pathologists. The series has been taken over by Elsevier, guaranteeing worldwide distribution, electronic support, and visibility. This book proudly joins all the others that have appeared so far in this series. Pathologists who know the series and are looking for a well-done update of liver and pancreas pathology will buy this one regardless of my endorsement. For those who are not familiar with the Diagnostic Pathology series, suffice it to say that this is an ideal book for time-pressed practitioners who need the essential data distilled from primary and secondary articles, supplemented by personal comments and hints, as well as facts tested in practice by experienced authors. The abundant, well-chosen illustrations augment the value of the text, illustrating the key microscopic elements needed for the diagnosis. The bulleted items such as histological features, differential diagnosis, and diagnostic checklist, are found in each and every chapter; they are my personal favorites and they could not have been done better. Brief correlations with clinical, laboratory, and/or radiological findings will also appeal to practicing pathologists as well their trainees.

References are well chosen and timely.

Assessment

The second edition appears very much up to date and the authors have done their best to keep readers well informed. There are quite a few pathology books dealing with liver, biliary, and pancreatic pathology, but none of them has managed to compress into 450 pages so much essential data and so many excellent color photographs as this one. Easy to use, compact yet comprehensive, it could be the only book on liver and pancreas that you might need for your practice.

It is a fine addition to the Diagnostic Pathology series and one of its quintessential volumes. A real coup de maitre, for which I offer my congratulations to the editors, their contributors, and the entire technical support team listed on the acknowledgements page.

Doody’s Review Service Weighted Numerical Score: 100 – 5 Stars!