Abstract
There is no doubt that the requirements of the toxicologic pathologist to precisely define the terms that they use have increased considerably in the last 10 years or so and this has become more imperative following the implementation of the Standard Exchange for NonClinical Data (SEND) initiative introduced by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017. Although there are internationally sponsored guidelines that define diagnostic criteria for toxicologic pathology, via the International Harmonisation of Toxicologic Pathology Nomenclature (INHAND) publications, there is a genuine need for a readily accessible text that pulls the terms together in one place. This textbook is an attempt to provide just this service. As is the convention with a dictionary, the terminology is arranged alphabetically and will be an ideal reference guide for toxicologists, regulatory reviewers, and toxicologic pathologists needing a precise definition of any terms that they encounter in reading a report or attempting to better understand the myriad of terminology that toxicologic pathologists use on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, the text does not limit itself to pathological terms but also includes definitions such as “new drug application (NDA),” “embryo fetal development,” and “cytochrome P450.” In this respect, the “dictionary” will be of interest to a more general congregation of toxicological scientists than simply pathologists.
As a textbook this is not simply the latest in a line of excellent books in the field, as it clearly fills a gap in the literature for toxicologic pathology, and is a truly complementary book to the INHAND publications and one which will fill a valuable niche in the day-to-day armament of the practicing toxicological pathologist. What this text does not aim to be is a substitute for the INHAND publications since any pathologist coming across a new lesion would not easily be able to find the required terminology to apply to it even though the book contains an excellent and comprehensive index. A toxicologic pathologist would however be able to ensure that any descriptors that they do use in practice are correct for the particular pathology from the definitions present in this textbook.
The format of the text lists the various contributors at the front of the book, and it is to the editors’ credit that it reads like a veritable “who’s who” of the most influential in current day toxicologic pathology. The photomicrographs and the reproduction of the illustrative diagrams throughout the textbook are excellent and really add to the quality of this extremely impressive publication. What really increases the value of the photographs and diagrams within the dictionary is the fact that many are accompanied by comprehensive descriptions, and the literature references from where the illustrations were derived. It is somewhat of a pity that not all of the illustrations are derived from previous publications since there is real benefit in being able to reference original publications for additional information on the respective conditions. Even though obtaining permission from the various publishers of the original articles can be an extra effort, its return to the reader is really a beneficial one that you simply can’t get when original illustrations are used. There is no literature reference listing for the dictionary part of the text, but this is not a criticism since any listing would most probably exceed the size of the textbook in order to cover all of the definitions.
What isn’t immediately obvious is the reasoning behind the inclusion of the 3 appendices covering the “Overview of Drug Development, Nonclinical Safety & Toxicologic Pathology,” the “Diagnostic Criteria of Proliferative Lesions in Rodents,” and the “Mini-Atlas of Organ System Anatomy and Histology.” This is not to say that each and every one of these is a tremendously informative read and very well written, but I worry that anyone considering purchasing the textbook would be unaware of these additions from a perusal of the title and would not necessarily buy the textbook for these chapters. This would be a pity as the addenda are really well worth taking the time to read in detail. On the flip side, anyone purchasing this textbook as a dictionary would have the very valuable bonus of these chapters in addition to what they bargained for. As a reviewer, I do not know how these can be better advertised but a real effort to do so would be well worth it to maximize the not inconsiderable efforts of the contributing authors to this part of the textbook.
As with previous publications by these editors, they have again achieved a remarkable feat in honing the various contributions by a large number of contributors into a cohesive whole that greatly enhances the look and value of the book. This book should appeal to scientists, both regulatory and those involved in basic research, working in toxicology who need to understand the pathology contributions to toxicology reports and should be a required addition to government drug regulatory agencies.
The book will have use for both the experienced toxicologist and toxicologic pathologist in industry, academia, and government especially in providing a ready explanation of the descriptive pathology terms used in research and regulatory reports. It should be a recommended addition to the toxicologic pathology references of all practicing pathologists and its niche position makes it one which is simply not repeated in any of the alternative books published to date. Make no mistake, this textbook is ambitious in its scope and the publishers have done the contributing authors a really excellent service that matches the aspirations of the editors.
