Diagnostic Pathology: Blood and Bone Marrow, 3rd Edition

By: Kathryn Foucar 

ISBN: 9780323878784 

Publication Date: September 6, 2023 

Reviewer: Anamarija Perry, MD (University of Michigan Medical School) 

Description 

This is the third edition of a book in the highly acclaimed Diagnostic Pathology series that covers the full spectrum of blood and bone marrow diseases. The previous edition was published in 2018. 

Purpose 

The aim of this updated edition is to provide readers with current diagnostic resources for all types of blood and bone marrow specimens. It integrates advances in genetic testing and other new diagnostic modalities with state-of-the-art classification proposals. 

Audience 

This book will be useful to anyone who interprets bone marrow biopsies, including hematopathologists, surgical pathologists, pathology residents, and hematopathology fellows. Clinical hematologists and fellows also could use it as a quick reference. 

Features 

This edition of the book adds multiple new chapters and updates all existing chapters to enhance utility of this book in everyday hematopathology practice. 

The book incorporates both the International Consensus Classification (ICC) and the fifth edition World Health Organization Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumors (WHO-HAEM5), although, for consistency, neoplastic chapter titles reflect ICC designations and terminology. The book extensively updates references from the previous edition. The first of the book’s 11 sections covers the basics of hematopoiesis and bone marrow histology, bone marrow examination and techniques, and synoptic bone marrow reporting, as well as an overview of constitutional and acquired bone marrow disorders. The next seven sections cover nonneoplastic blood and bone marrow disorders including anemia, erythrocytosis, benign leukocyte disorders, constitutional granulocytic disorders, megakaryocytic disorders, infections, and miscellaneous nonneoplastic disorders and conditions. The rest of the book presents neoplastic disorders, including myeloid neoplasms, lymphoid neoplasms, and other neoplasms that involve the book marrow. At the beginning of each entity, the book presents the key facts summarizing the most notable features. Next are the following sections: terminology, classification, clinical issues, microscopic, ancillary tests, differential diagnosis, diagnostic checklist, and selected references. The book uses a bullet-point format, like all the books in this series. Multiple microscopic images of excellent quality accompany each diagnosis as do graphs, histograms, karyograms, and drawings, where pertinent. 

Figure captions are concise and helpful. The book also features multiple useful tables, including the tables that provide comparisons and key features of both ICC and WHO-HAEM5 proposals. The book concludes with a comprehensive index. 

Assessment 

This book remains one of the favorite bone marrow books of both trainees and practicing hematopathologists alike. The author and her team did an excellent job integrating both classifications (ICC and WHO-HAEM5) into the third edition and updating the book to reflect the many changes that occurred in the field of hematopathology since the last edition published in 2018. The tables that compare and contrast the two classifications are very useful and will surely help readers navigate frequently confusing differences between the two in this hopefully transitional period in our field. The book remains visually stunning with beautiful images of excellent quality including some exceedingly rare blood and bone marrow disorders. The succinct format makes it an ideal book for quick reference. This text is a must-have for anyone dealing with blood and bone marrow specimens. 

©Doody’s Review Service, 2024, Anamarija Perry, MD (University of Michigan Medical School)

Doody’s Score: 100 – 5 Stars! 

Purchase your copy of Diagnostic Pathology: Blood and Bone Marrow, 3rd Edition here!