Abstract
The fourth edition (2007) of Clinical Oncology is a marked improvement over the third edition published in 2001. The new addition, not only has about 120 more pages with illustrations in color, but the book is now a standard 8” x 11” size with two columns of print, whereas the third edition was a smaller text 7.5 by 10 inches. The book is a multi-author text with 34 contributors, all well-qualified in their area. The previous text had 39 authors with the late well-regarded, co-editor Greg MacEwen replaced by David Vail again with senior editor Dr. Stephen Withrow. The third edition was more like the DeVita text of human oncology, entitled Cancer Principles and Practice of Oncology, with the new text organized around four sections that include Biology, Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Specific Malignancies.
Part two of the new text entitled “Diagnostic Procedures for the Cancer Patient” is largely a new area with a completely new section on clinical imaging in oncology as well as an updated section on clinical cytology that is itself a mini atlas. Unfortunately, like all current offerings in cytology there are no histo-cyto correlations to provide substance to cytologic interpretation with tumor gradings. There is an excellent new section on molecular diagnostics and issues ending with an offering by the senior author on principles of biopsy. The senior author, a surgeon, includes some very good rules of thumb that include the fact that a clinician can more reliably accept a diagnosis of an incomplete excision, but not always that of a complete excision. The latter meaning, that the surgery has adequately accomplished complete excision of the neoplasm.
My favorite section on hematopoietic tumors is largely rewritten, around a similar organization based on canine lymphoma and leukemia, feline lymphoma leukemia, canine myeloproliferative diseases, and myelodysplastic syndromes. The section benefits from many color illustrations and diagrams, which add interest and understanding. The hematopoietic diseases are largely treated as grouped entities with discussion of the recent relevant classification systems, including the late Working Formulation, the Kiel classification, and mention made of the REAL and WHO classification systems. The application of the WHO system to animal neoplasms is recognized, including the fact that the relevance of that classification has not been verified in terms of animal treatment and survival. Since the WHO classification has in its current format been published for nearly 15 years, it is unfortunate that the authors did not mention that the basic difference in the WHO system is that the neoplastic entities are recognized as individual diseases. Thus, the neoplasms are categorized based on all available information, including topography, response to treatment, and survival, as well as on the basis of cell type and immunophenotype. The authors conclude that the prognosis for most hematopoietic neoplasms is poor but do not mention that some are characterized by long survival with the animals doing well even if left untreated. In fairness, the Oncologists await better definition from pathologists for more tailored therapies of hematopoietic neoplasms in animals. There are 288 references for this section on hematopoietic neoplasms of which 87 are from 2000 or later, indicating a considerable upgrade in access to information.
In summary, unlike most multi-authored texts the fourth edition of Withrow and MacEwen's Clinical Oncology avoids the disadvantage of books of this type that tend to have great width and minimal depth. In this edition, all of the chapters are updated and authoritatively well-written. The subject matter includes current information relating not only to cancer causation and diagnostic strategies but also to various drugs, dosages, and methods of administration. The book is an essential tool for students of oncology.