Diagnostic Pathology: Transplant Pathology, 2nd Edition

By Anthony C. Chang, MD and Robert B. Colvin, MD

ISBN: 9780323553575

Pub Date: 10 Jul 2018

Reviewed by: Kyle Perry, MD (Henry Ford Health Systems)

Description

This second edition of book on transplant pathology in the Diagnostic Pathology series addresses the pathological processes associated with renal, liver, heart, lung, intestinal, and pancreas transplants. The first edition was published in 2013.

Purpose

The purpose is to cover entities that are associated with organ transplantation, including donor disease, surgical complications, allograft rejection, drug toxicity, and opportunistic infections. Moreover, the authors highlight current issues and dilemmas that are associated with organ transplantation.

Audience

The book is written primarily for practicing pathologists. Pathologists and clinicians who specialize in disciplines in which transplants are frequently encountered (such as nephrology or hepatology) also would find this book to be particularly helpful.

Features

The initial section of this book explains the terminology, concepts, and components in the immune response to organ transplantation, including transplant tolerance, NK cells, and complement. The second section establishes a foundational knowledge of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system and how HLA testing is performed in transplantation. Issues associated with graft-versus-host disease and transfusion reactions are also addressed. The third section discusses immune suppressive drugs, including their mechanism of action and how they are clinically monitored. After these underlying concepts of transplantation are established, the remainder of the book is then arranged by organ, beginning with kidney transplantation. In kidney transplantation, the book starts by discussing the appropriate diagnostic approach in evaluating end-stage kidney biopsies, potential allograft biopsies, post-transplant allograft biopsies, and native kidney specimens. It then comprehensively addresses a wide range of pathological entities associated with kidney transplantation, including rejection, de novo diseases, drug toxicities, and infections. The book is similarly organized for liver, heart, lung, pancreas, and small bowel transplantation. The book concludes with a discussion of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders. Each entity described in the book includes numerous high-quality images illustrating the pertinent features.

Assessment

This is an excellent resource for transplant pathology. Pathologists and pathology residents who have an interest in transplant associated specimens will find this to be an excellent comprehensive resource. Moreover, surgical pathologists who only occasionally handle transplant specimens (such as on weekend call) will find the format amenable as a quick reference/survival guide. Moreover, the authors impressively move beyond simply describing histological features and nicely equip pathologists with a knowledge of the underlying biology and clinical implications of the biopsies they receive. The illustrations are excellent, and the text is concise. Overall, this would make an excellent addition to a library of a person or institution that frequently or occasionally encounters transplantation-associated specimens.

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