Surgical Pathology Dissection: An Illustrated Guide

by William H. Westra, F.B. Askin (Foreword by), Ralph H. Hruban, Timothy H. Phelps, Christina Isacson

Overview

Surgical Pathology Dissection, Second Edition fills the need for a comprehensive, fully illustrated guide to the preparation, dissection, and handling of surgical pathology specimens. The authors share their wealth of talent and experiences by providing general principles that can be employed to resolve even the most complex problems in dissection and tissue sampling. The descriptive text is augmented by 62 exclusive, detailed illustrations printed as full-page plates depicting proper specimen handling techniques that add a unique vitality and multidimensional effect. Each chapter features a section on Important Issues to Address in Your Surgical Pathology Report and references selected for their pertinent coverage of specimen handling for each organ system.

Updated and revised, this second edition includes four new chapters and expanded discussions on: Preparation of Tissues for Molecular Analysis; Craniofacial Bones; Heart; Transplantation Specimens; The Sentinel Lymph Node. Revisions have been made to conform to suggested guidelines proposed by the College of American Pathologists.

From reviews of the first edition:

"Hruban, Westra and Isacson, working with a superb medical illustrator did an admirable job in taking the Johns Hopkins' gross room manual and translating it into a practical, concise, and easily accessible guide to contemporary practice in the surgical pathology laboratory."

(Modern Pathology)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780387955599
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	04/30/2003
Edition description:	Second Edition 2003
Pages:	258
Product dimensions:	8.27(w) x 10.98(h) x 0.02(d)

Table of Contents

General Approach and Techniques.- General Approach to Surgical Pathology Specimens.- Laboratory Techniques.- Tissue Collection for Molecular Genetic Analysis.- Photography.- Lymph Nodes for Metastatic Tumors.- Lymph Nodes.- The Head and Neck.- Larynx.- Major Salivary Glands.- Complex Specimens.- Maxilla.- Radical Neck Dissection.- The Digestive System.- Esophagus.- Stomach.- Non-Neoplastic Intestinal Disease.- Neoplastic Intestinal Disease.- Liver.- Gallbladder and Extrahepatic Biliary System.- Pancreas.- The Cardiovascular/Respiratory System.- Heart, Heart Valves, and Vessels.- Lungs.- Transplantation.- Bone, Soft Tissue, and Skin.- Bone.- Soft Tissue, Nerves, and Muscle.- Skin.- The Breast.- Breast.- The Female Genital System.- Vulva.- Uterus, Cervix, and Vagina.- Ovary and Fallopian Tube.- Products of Conception and Placentas.- The Urinary Tract and Male Genital System.- Penis.- Prostate.- Testis.- Kidney.- Bladder.- The Ocular System.- Eye.- The Endocrine System.- Thyroid.- Parathyroid Glands.- Adrenal Glands.- Pediatric Tumors.- Pediatric Tumors.- The Central Nervous System.- Brain and Spinal Cord.- The Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System.- Lymph Nodes.- Spleen.- Thymus.- Bone Marrow.- Odds and Ends.- Common Uncomplicated Specimens.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Jay C. Helsel, MD (University of Kansas Medical Center)
Description: This book provides specific guidelines on how to dissect and structure the gross procedure for the great majority of anatomic pathology specimens. This new edition provides expanded information, including new illustrations and expert input, and reflects the current methods for processing anatomic specimens.
Purpose: The goal of the book is to provide a user-friendly, hands-on guide for the dissection of surgical pathology specimens. This is a very relevant book to practicing pathologists, both novice and experienced. All practices may occasionally encounter a specimen that is not common; this book provides a valuable tool for correctly dissecting a specimen from the beginning. The book meets the authors' objectives and functions to serve a needed niche that many pathology book do not adequately address.
Audience: This book would be valuable to a wide number of healthcare personnel including staff pathologists, residents, pathologists' assistants, histotechnologists, and other laboratory personnel. Surgeons and radiologists may also gain insight by referencing this book. This book is highly recommended as a "must read" for anatomic pathology training programs. The authors are all well credentialed and qualified. In addition, a number of expert contributors have added content to the current edition.
Features: The book does an excellent job of describing how to dissect and "cut-in" nearly all pathology specimens. The illustrations are well done and the text is concise and not excessive. The authors do a great job of making the reader realize that the task at the gross table begins with visualizing how the final report will read. The authors also describe the reasons why many such specimens arrive to begin with (i.e. indications for the procedure).
Assessment: A common tool used in aiding pathology dissection is Appendix H in Ackerman's Surgical Pathology, 8th edition (Mosby, 1996), edited by Rosai. This book greatly expands upon this basic outline and provides valuable insight into how to dissect anatomic specimens. I am very impressed. This would be a worthwhile reference in any anatomic pathology laboratory.

Doody's Review Service

This book is an illustrated manual for the handling of gross specimens, designed as a practical guide to be used near or at the bench of any surgical pathology laboratory. The purpose is to describe, by organ system, the processing of specimens routinely received in surgical pathology. After several introductory chapters dealing with a general approach to handling of specimens as well as types of fixatives and special stains, the manual proceeds by organ system and comprehensively outlines the processing of specimens from the initial orientation through the final, written report. Targeted toward those involved in the handling of gross specimens, including technicians, medical students, pathologist's assistants, residents and staff pathologists, this book will be useful in any surgical pathology laboratory whether in an academic or community setting. Multiple authors who are respected in their various fields write the chapters in their subspecialty areas. The book is adequately illustrated with drawings that are accurate and easy to follow. Highlights are tabulated in boxes adjacent to the illustrations of each specimen. An extensive list of suggested readings is also provided. This is a useful book, especially for residents and staff pathologists handling surgical pathology specimens. It provides a comprehensive guideline for processing specimens, including specimen orientation, dissection, gross description, and sampling. Pertinent information to be included in the surgical pathology report is given for each organ system. This manual displays a unique combination of both diagrams and text that is not found in other similar manuals, making this a very useful book to be kept onhand in the surgical pathology laboratory.

Elizabeth Jensen