Abstract
For years, the first three editions of Tumors of Domestic Animals, edited by Jack Moulton, provided a mainstay for veterinary pathologists and residents studying in the field of oncology. Because of the massive growth in our understanding of oncogenesis and development of diagnostic techniques, in the 12 years since the third edition, the fourth edition, edited by Donald Meuten, comes as a welcome update.
The fourth edition of Tumors of Domestic Animals is significantly expanded over the previous edition, with 24 contributing authors. The first chapter provides an excellent overview of cancer pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. The next 14 chapters specifically cover tumors of the body systems. The general format is similar to that of previous editions, with subsections on general considerations, incidence, age, breed and sex, sites, gross morphology, histologic features, growth and metastasis, and treatment of each tumor type. A subsection of additional diagnostic criteria is provided for tumors that may require techniques beyond routine hematoxylin and eosin–stained sections for diagnosis. This subsection usually includes a discussion of useful immunohistochemical antibodies, as well as other techniques. These techniques have become increasingly more important as innovative clinicians strive to specifically tailor treatment protocols for their cancer patients.
A reasonable list of references follows each major topic; however, in some cases, significant references are omitted. The appendix contains helpful diagnostic schemes and/or algorithms. These were derived from information in the literature and are used at North Carolina State University for grading and prognostic information on several tumor types.
The book contains approximately 430 figures, which include black and white gross and microscopic photographs (frequently in the form of plates containing 3 or 4 photographs each), flow charts and graphs, 48 tables, and 15 diagnostic schemes and algorithms. Unfortunately, there is a partial deletion of Fig. 1.15, Overview of carcinogenesis, modified from Pathologic Basis of Disease, by Cotran et al.
Overall, I find this a very useful text and highly recommend it for its intended audience of veterinary diagnostic pathologists, pathology residents, and veterinarians with a special interest in the pathology of tumors.