Differential Diagnosis in Surgical Pathology

Rating:
Summary: Needs improvement
Review: A direct quote (p. 866): Clinically, melanomas occuring on the sun-damaged skin of the face and presenting as large irregularly pigmented patches have been referred to as lentigo maligna melanoma.
Does the author know what she is writing about?
Other sections are better. E.g. I quite liked the GI tract. Nevertheless, this book, in its present shape, is a pseudo-help for residents. With so many excellent textbooks available, what is the use of a less than average one?

Rating:
Summary: From a first year pathology resident
Review: I bought this book without the benefit of any reviews or opinions from other folks in pathology because the title sounded so perfect for addressing a lot of the frustrations facing a new resident. This book is really excellent. It is a great value...because most of the photomicrographs are in black and white. (There are some color plates in the front.) Normally this is considered a deficit in pathology books, but its other good qualities outstrip the lack of color photos. The chapters are organized by organ system. There are a number of diagnostic algorithm charts. Each entity has bullets under the following headings: clinical features, gross pathology, histopathology, special stains and IHC, modern techniques for diagnosis (e.g. serum antibodies, flow cytometry, or EM, etc.), differential diagnosis, and pearls. There are also selected references at the end of each entry. It is well-organized and easy to use with a fairly good index. Many less common, but important, entities aren't given their own headings, but are mentioned (along with some pearls) in the differential diagnoses of more common entities. Many of the residents in my program are getting this book. I think everyone has been impressed with its completeness and ease of use. It may not be quite as valuable to experienced staff pathologists who can generate a complete differential diagnosis just by looking at a slide or hearing a history. Thanks so much to the authors, editors, and contributors.

Rating:
Summary: Great for first year residents and beyond
Review: I purchased this book at the tail end of my first year and wish I had gotten it sooner. It is an awesome quick reference for conferences and sign-out. The descriptions of what to look for in a particular lesion are great. The differential diagnoses are a touch incomplete. However, for the differentials listed, an explanation of why the lesions are different is given. Another bonus is the fact that special stains are included for each lesion (my personal favorite). The book could be a bit more organized, but I think this will come with age. Overall I thinks it's a great book and a good buy (bordering on must buy) for the lost confused eyes of a first year resident.

Rating:
Summary: Great for first year residents and beyond
Review: I purchased this book at the tail end of my first year and wish I had gotten it sooner. It is an awesome quick reference for conferences and sign-out. The descriptions of what to look for in a particular lesion are great. The differential diagnoses are a touch incomplete. However, for the differentials listed, an explanation of why the lesions are different is given. Another bonus is the fact that special stains are included for each lesion (my personal favorite). The book could be a bit more organized, but I think this will come with age. Overall I thinks it's a great book and a good buy (bordering on must buy) for the lost confused eyes of a first year resident.

Rating:
Summary: Required for the Pathology resident's bookshelf
Review: This book is a must for all pathology residents, especially those starting out. It is excellent for a quick reference before sign out or conference and is a good starting point for further reading. It should be coupled with a solid surgical pathology reference book such as Sternburg.

Rating:
Summary: PGY-3 Pathology Resident
Review: This is an excellent title and should be part of the required textbook list that all pathology residents should get at the start of their residency. The bullet comment format is very useful and this text is a fine companion to the standard Anatomic Pathology text. It is also perfect for a quick review of a disease entity either at sign-out with staff or prior to a larger scope teaching session. Get this book early in the residency if at all possible.