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Excerpt
I anticipate that this superbly illustrated atlas will be warmly received by pathologists and dermatologists alike. In both fields where diagnoses are made by visual inspection, there is a need for an atlas containing clinical and histologic photographs of high quality. Like the companion text Dermatopathology, this hardcover book is organized into chapters according to histologic disease patterns. Each chapter has an introductory section that briefly defines terminology used to describe relevant disease processes; discusses pathogenesis; outlines some histologic pointers to help distinguish them; and usually includes a schematic drawing of the temporal evolution of a prototypical lesion. The remaining pages display 2 to 6 well-spaced color photographs (and occasional black and white electron photomicrographs) averaging 8×5 cm and accompanied by concise and descriptive figure legends. Typically, each disease process is represented in a clinical picture and several low- and high-power microscopic photographs that are well-framed, in sharp focus, and show excellent contrast and true colors. The index is well organized and allows quick access to tables and text.
Admittedly, the authors designed this atlas as a supplement to Dermatopathology, and one should not expect this work to have a comprehensive text. There are no references and some lesions are simply displayed and described, without further in-depth discussion. With this in mind, the atlas alone can serve as quick reference to general pathologists seeking to confirm the clinical appearance of a lesion before rendering a histologic diagnosis. Pathology residents who have little exposure to clinical dermatology would also benefit from the outstanding clinical pictures. Dermatology and pathology residents will probably appreciate the histologic pearls and photographs.
Unlike a great many atlases that feature mostly common diseases, I was pleasantly surprised to find pictures and discussion of some rather uncommon affliction as well, such as Degos' disease and elastosis perforans serpiginosa, to name a few. It should also be noted that there is use of terminology, such as “Langerhans' cell microgranuloma,” which some may consider “non-standard.” But, as one well-known, established dermatopathologist reacted, “I have not heard of it, but it sounds like an accurate description.” In short, residents and surgical pathologists should find the Atlas of Dermatopathology both stimulating and useful.
