Abstract
More than an atlas, this monograph with 511 illustrations comprehensively covers over 50 dysplastic, proliferative, or neoplastic lesions of the liver and bile ducts. Fourteen chapters compose the book, commencing with a review of developmental anatomy and progressing through tumors and tumorlike lesions of hepatocytes and bile duct epithelium, lymphoma, mesenchymal tumors, other tumors not derived from hepatocytes or biliary epithelium, and metastatic tumors. Subsections on definition, clinical features, gross findings, microscopic findings, and differential diagnoses for each tumor make the fascicle easy reading. When pertinent, additional sections on immunohistochemistry, etiology, pathogenesis, treatment, or prognosis are included. Macroscopic and histologic illustrations are usually in color and of excellent quality. Photomicrographs of sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin predominate, but illustrations of tissue stains and immunohistochemistry are also included. The index is a complete alphabetical listing of tumors and tumorlike lesions with subheadings where appropriate, so finding the lesion of interest is simple.
Compared with the 1989 edition, the fascicle has new authors, different and more numerous illustrations (now in color) with fewer electron micrographs, more immunohistochemistry, and coverage of entities not presented before. Chapters on lymphoma and putative precancerous lesions are new. The latter will be of particular interest to toxicologic pathologists. Each chapter is thoroughly referenced with citations as recent as 1999. Although intended for the physician/surgical pathologist, the fascicle will be a useful reference for veterinary pathologists (diagnostic, comparative, or toxicologic), residents, and oncologists. The reader seeking extensive information on molecular diagnostics will be disappointed, but the authors have achieved their goal of creating a diagnostic guide with succinct information on nomenclature, pathogenesis, clinical behavior, and treatment for nearly every hepatic tumor imaginable.