Reviewer: Ivan Damjanov, MD,PhD(University of Kansas Medical Center)
Description: This book on soft tissue pathology deals with neoplasms and non-neoplastic conditions, covering essentially all major and minor entities, providing data on their histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular biology features. The book has undergone major revision and expansion and bears very little resemblance to its predecessor edition, which was published under the imprint of another publisher.
Purpose: It provides a modern and up-do-date treasure trove of data on soft tissue pathology. Using these data, surgical pathologists should be well prepared to tackle the diagnosis of soft tissue lesions and interpret the sophisticated data obtained by various ancillary techniques.
Audience: It is written primarily for hospital-based diagnostic surgical pathologists and their trainees and assistants. It can be used by experienced senior pathologists as well as neophytes who are still in training. Secondary markets include surgeons, especially oncologic and orthopedic surgeons. Medical students and specialists practicing medical oncology will consult it for simple answers to complex questions. The editor, one of the leading soft tissue pathologists in the world, has several decades of experience, has published widely, and is recognized by his peers as one of the most prominent diagnosticians in this field. There are additional contributions by several subspecialty experts on molecular biology, cytogenetics, and related modern diagnostic techniques.
Features: With 38 chapters and over 1,000 pages, the book deals systematically with soft tissue pathology and is both comprehensive and eclectic. The emphasis is on macroscopic and microscopic pathology, but chapters also deal with radiology, immunohistochemistry, genetics, cytogenetics, and clinical/therapeutic aspects of soft tissue tumors and related conditions. The book is illustrated with over 1,500 color photographs of highest possible quality. The color microphotographs, usually presented in panels of four frames, illustrate the salient aspects of each lesion. The graphic presentation of data on the distribution of various tumors by age and location in the distinct parts of the body also is a useful feature. Each chapter has a reference section containing the most relevant recent citations from current literature. The book has a good index and table of contents. Overall, it reads well, is full of useful facts, and is masterfully illustrated.
Assessment: This is an important contribution to the ever expanding literature on soft tissue pathology, written by one of the major gurus in the field. Dr. Miettinen, who is the chairman of the department of soft tissue and orthopedic pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, has written most of the text and edited the chapters contributed by his collaborators as well as pathologists from several other institutions. The book, however, has the indelible imprint of Dr. Miettinen's scientific and methodical approach to pathology. Most notable are his personal notes, which reflect his own experience whenever a controversial lesion is discussed, his commonsense approach to diagnosis and classification of various tumors, and the arguments he provides in support of his opinions, which are expressed firmly and without equivocation. This a masterfully compiled book written/edited by one of the most prominent pathologists in the field of soft tissue pathology and it deserves to be consulted by all of us who might be less experienced but who respect his opinions and contributions. Even though there are several monographs dealing with soft tissue pathology, including the most popular, Enzinger and Weiss's Soft Tissue Tumors, 5th edition, Weiss and Goldblum (Elsevier, 2008) (also stemming originally from AFIP), this book will be welcomed by many a diagnostic pathologist and hailed for its excellent pictures, no-nonsense practical approach, and its first-class integration of classic pathology with the data obtained by modern ancillary diagnostic techniques. The book deserves to be included in all hospital and departmental pathology libraries. It will be used as a textbook and reference by senior and junior pathologists and clinical specialists dealing with soft tissue tumors and related lesions.
