Abstract
The main goals of the second edition of Fundamentals of Toxicologic Pathology are to update information in the first edition and broaden the scope of the book to appeal to a wider range of readers interested in toxicologic pathology. This new edition targets toxicology and pathology graduate students and residents as well as pathologists and toxicologists who need an overview of the integration of structure and functional changes caused by toxic injury. To these ends, it accomplishes its stated purposes well. The back cover notes that 25% of its content constitutes new information, but it seems like much more material has been added; the second edition even weighs 47% more than the first. Many figures are in color, and most are of excellent quality despite the lack of glossy paper. There are new tables and text as well as updated references.
The first edition of Fundamentals of Toxicologic Pathology, published in 1997, was based on the first edition of Handbook of Toxicologic Pathology, published in 1991. Most chapters in the handbook were written by several authors who were experts in their subject matter. The 2010 edition of Fundamentals of Toxicologic Pathology is largely based on the second edition of the handbook, published in 2002. The original authors are noted in an acknowledgments page but not in the individual chapter headings, although substantial sections of text are unchanged. The entire process is legal but unusual for a book. That said, the new edition provides an excellent source of information in the field of toxicologic pathology. Chapters on the many organ systems make for easy reading, as does the format.
Each chapter is organized into five sections: Structure and Function, Mechanisms of Toxicity, Response to Injury, Evaluation of Toxicity, and Further Reading. As mentioned, most chapters have significant additions, including text, figures, tables, and references. The new tables are particularly nice because many provide a brief review of the characteristics of selected toxins for each organ. Reading lists are good, but some chapters could have had more current references, and some missed some major references on a particular subject. The “Liver” chapter lists references primarily published after 2002, but the “Manifestations of Toxic Injury” chapter has only one reference published after 2002, perhaps because of differences in the subject matter. There are separate chapters on the immune and hematopoietic systems. Arguably, these could have been merged into one chapter, given that today the systems are understood to be integrated and innate immunity involves the hematopoietic system. Perhaps that integration process is for the future. The excellent “Immune System” chapter, originally written by Kuper and colleagues, is mostly written as it was by the original authors in the Handbook of Toxicologic Pathology, with some upgrades. Most of the other chapters have more significant additions.
Some items are covered in detail, and others, too briefly or not at all. These deficiencies do not detract from the book as a good resource for the purposes stated. Tumors are briefly reviewed, but lack of information on tumors is not a problem given the many publications on tumors in rodents. Species differences in response to natural or synthetic toxins are not emphasized, although the subject is of much concern today. Diagnostic applications of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization are not generally included. Discussion of the driving forces requiring toxicology testing of chemicals and pathologic evaluation is also not done, except briefly in the preface. Without the guidelines and requirements of the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and other regulatory agencies, where would the field of toxicology pathology be?
Fundamentals of Toxicologic Pathology, second edition, represents a major source of teaching and research material on toxicologic pathology and toxicology. It fulfills the goals of the authors for uses by graduate students, toxicologists, and practicing pathologists.