Abstract
This long-awaited third edition of the International Classification of Skin Tumors of Domestic Animals was recently published by the C. L. Davis and S. W. Thompson Foundation and edited by Matti Kiupel. The original was published by the World Health Organization in 1974, whereas the last edition was published in 1998 by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.
Collaborators in the volume include Michael Goldschmidt (chair), Matti Kiupel, Robert Klopfleisch, John Munday, and Jennifer Scruggs. This volume differs from the prior additions in that it is exclusively devoted to epithelial tumors. The content is expanded from 105 pages in the second edition to 241 pages. Melanocytic tumors will be published separately.
There are a number of upgrades in this edition. An introductory chapter is devoted to the anatomy and embryology of the skin as well as anatomic differences between species. A very useful section describes antibody clones used to assess cytokeratin expression. Indeed, 3 tables nicely summarize tissue distribution of cytokeratins, expression in epithelia, and predicted expression in epithelial tumors. This is followed by a chapter that details a tangential sectioning method for the most complete assessment of tumor margins. Readers will enjoy multiple, good- to excellent-quality color photographs for each tumor. Following the histologic description of each tumor, a section is devoted to biological behavior and differential diagnoses. I would have preferred to have the tumors grouped together based on differentiation (eg, sebaceous adenoma, epithelioma, carcinoma), but they are grouped based on behavior (eg, sebaceous adenoma, ceruminous gland adenoma, etc); however, this does not detract at all from the quality of the publication. Furthermore, the section on papillomavirus-induced lesions could be shortened a bit, but the multiple images will be most helpful for trainees. This is an excellent “must have” fascicle that belongs on the shelf of every diagnostic veterinary pathologist and trainee.