Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Surgical Pathology: Clinicoradiologic and Cytologic Correlations by Scott E. Kilpatrick, Jordan B. Renner, and Andrew Creager
Elsevier Science, St. Louis, 2004, $179
Although this 390-page text is primarily for diagnostic surgical pathologists, it’s a useful reference for musculoskeletal radiologists, orthopedic surgeons, and others who are involved in the diagnosis of bone and soft tissue lesions.
Kilpatrick and Renner are from the University of North Carolina in Durham and are experts in their fields of pathology-laboratory medicine and radiology, respectively. Co-author Creager is from the department of pathology at Duke University in Durham.
The book is organized in 16 chapters. The first chapter deals with principles of musculoskeletal tumor diagnosis and management; chapter two addresses immunohistochemical, molecular and cytogenic analysis of bone and soft tissue tumors.
Chapters three through 15 discuss specific tumors and cysts categorized according to cytological and histological composition. The 30-page final chapter is devoted to infectious, metabolic, and arthritic disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Most pathology texts deal with tumors of bone and soft tissues separately. The authors of this text take a unique approach, describing both bone and soft tissue tumors together, emphasizing the histogenesis and the predominant cytomorphologic/matrix features of the entity in question. Fine needle aspiration biopsy techniques and analysis are thoroughly discussed.
The text is beautifully illustrated with over 1,300 photographs, the majority of which are in color. High quality paper enhances the gross specimens, pathologic slides, and radiographic images.
Radiologists will be pleased that this book, in the words of the authors, "emphasizes radiologic features, where necessary, over those of the classic gross specimen." The quality and resolution of the x-ray, CT, and MR images is excellent. However, many of the radiographic images are quite small, which does detract somewhat from the quality.
Image captions are precise and informative, frequently containing practical information for interpretation. The authors use many tables to illustrate the classification of disorders and their clinical, pathologic and radiologic features. The index is comprehensive and the references are complete and current. Overall, the book is well-written and easy to read.
The major focus of this book is to maximize accurate diagnosis. The enthusiasm, precision, and knowledge of the authors are evident on every page.
By Dr. John A.M. Taylor
AuntMinnie.com contributing writer
March 30, 2003
Dr. Taylor is a professor of radiology at the New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls, NY. He is the co-author of Skeletal Imaging: Atlas of the Spine and Extremities.
The opinions expressed in this review are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of AuntMinnie.com.
Copyright © 2004 AuntMinnie.com
