By: Eric D. Hsi, MD
ISBN: 978-0-323-47913-4
Pub Date:1-Feb-18
Reviewed by: Valerie L. Ng, PhD MD (Alameda County Medical Center/Highland Hospital)
Description
This is the third edition of a comprehensive textbook of hematopathology covering the “essentials of what all practicing pathologists want and need to know about the rapidly evolving group of neoplastic and non-neoplastic disorders.” This edition includes access to an online version. The previous edition was published in 2012.
Purpose
The purpose is to provide a contemporary hematopathology textbook reflecting recent changes in guidelines, diagnostic schema, and practice. The book meets these worthy objectives well.
Audience
The intended audience is practicing hematopathologists, but the book also would be of great value to hematopathology fellows, laboratory medicine or pathology residents in training, clinical hematology and oncology fellows or practitioners, and clinical laboratory scientists (CLSs) in practice or in training who are involved in bone marrow acquisition and specimen preparation.
Features
This is a fabulous book. It truly covers all areas of hematopathology. The photomicrographs are simply stunning, both in the print version and in “living color” in the online version. The color compensation is virtually perfect. Of note, all references are listed in the online version only. Much appreciated is the inclusion of the 2016 revision to the WHO classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemia, just one of many recent and rapid changes in this field. I perhaps expected too much as I was disappointed that the book is missing the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and American Society of Hematology (ASH) joint guideline on the initial diagnostic workup of acute leukemia, which was published widely just a few months ago (October 2017).
Undoubtedly it will be in the next edition. I was irked that the chapter on hemostasis and thrombosis does not discuss the controversies around hypercoagulability testing given it has limited to no impact on treatment or management decisions (see recent review by Connors, N Engl J Med 2017; 377:1177-1187). Finally, I was surprised that the chapter on disorders of the spleen does not include a reference to or mention of hairy cell leukemia, given the profound splenomegaly associated with this disorder. But these are very minor criticisms and, overall, this is a most wonderful addition to this field.
Assessment
This is a great and much needed update for hematopathology. I would highly recommend it for practicing hematopathologists. Keep it in a well-guarded location so it doesn’t “walk” away.
Doody’s Review Service Weighted Numerical Score: 95 – 4 Stars!
Leave A Comment